Japan's newly elected defence minister, Yasuo Ichikawa, has indicated that he is prepared to support a move to review Japan's long-standing military export ban. In a press conference on 5 September, Ichikawa - who was appointed three days earlier by new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda - said there is "room" to consider the effectiveness of the ban in light of technological developments and economic constraints on military production programmes. He noted, however, that such a review "should not bend the principle of being a peaceful nation".
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