Japan is considering changes to its military export laws, which could allow the sale of offensive weapons. This shift has drawn concern from Chinese analysts who fear it could affect stability in East Asia.

Japan is considering plans to relax its rules on the sale of offensive weapons in a move that one Chinese analyst said may open the door to it exporting weapons to warzones and possibly to Taiwan. Currently, Japan can only export military gear designated for defensive purposes such as rescue, transport, warning, surveillance or minesweeping equipment. But a draft government document, reportedly seen by the news agency Kyodo, would scrap this rule. Kyodo said the new regulations would make a...