Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has reiterated his stance that the government will seek understanding for its plan to export next-generation fighter jets to third countries.

Kishida was answering questions on Monday from an opposition lawmaker at the Upper House about an aircraft Japan is developing with Britain and Italy.

The government decided to ease its strict guidelines on arms exports in December. In the same month, the three countries agreed to set up an organization to coordinate the airplane's joint development.

While the government and the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party are positive on exporting the jets, ruling coalition partner Komeito is taking a cautious stance. The two sides have yet to agree on the matter.

The opposition lawmaker, Tsujimoto Kiyomi of the Constitutional Democratic Party, asked Kishida whether he wants Japan to sell lethal weapons, given that the country has not exported such items.

Kishida responded that it's important to share funding and technology with partner nations when defense equipment grows more sophisticated and costly. He added that international joint development is common for fighter aircraft.

He also said transferring the equipment not only to partners but also to third countries would give Japan a bigger market.

The prime minister said Japan has used fighter jets to defend itself as a Pacifist nation with an exclusively defense-oriented policy, and exports to third countries can help create a favorable security environment.

Tsujimoto pointed out that Britain's defense secretary said in the British Parliament last year that Japan needs to revise its guidelines on arms exports in order to make the joint development a success.

Kishida replied that he understands the remark as reflecting expectations on the British side.

The lawmaker argued that when the three countries agreed on the joint development in 2022, exporting to other nations may not have been a precondition.

Defense Minister Kihara Minoru said international joint projects have the advantage of hedging development risks and cutting procurement costs.

He said Britain and Italy discussed third-country exports as a matter of course and wanted Japan to do the same, so the government gradually became aware of the matter.