July 15, 2024
Cited article by Kyodo News
HRRC applauds Japan’s commitment to halt the manufacturing of fully autonomous lethal weapons and urges nations and international entities to actively address the humanitarian challenges posed by lethal autonomous weapons systems.
News Brief
According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government has enacted a policy opposing the production of fully autonomous lethal weapons. Earlier this year, the Japanese Foreign Ministry presented a paper to the United Nations (UN) detailing Japan’s position on lethal autonomous systems (LAWS), referring to weapons systems that, after the step of activation, do not require human involvement in order to pinpoint and attack objects or individuals with deadly force. While recognizing the advantages of autonomous weapons systems such as the lower likelihood of human error and the ability to accommodate for shortages of military personnel, the Ministry has emphasized the importance of exercising a human-centered approach and the necessity of human intervention and responsibility, noting that LAWS may not always be created and operated in alignment with global humanitarian guidelines.
Kyodo News observes that Japan’s decision comes in the midst of a growing need to regulate the use of autonomous weapons in warfare, where drone combat is becoming increasingly integrated in conflicts including the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. In addition, according to media outlet, a Foreign Ministry official stated that UN Secretary General António Guterres will publish a report on LAWS in the coming months, following the UN General Assembly’s December 2023 resolution that alerted countries to confront the risks of autonomous weapons, which was voted against by Russia and received abstentions from Israel, China, and North Korea.