Japan's government has given the green light to sell new fighter jets that it's developing with the UK and Italy. This is a big change for Japan, which has always been against selling weapons to other countries. But now, they're allowing it as long as the buyer is a country they have a defense agreement with and there's no war happening. Japan is worried about China and North Korea, so they want to strengthen their military. Each sale of these fighter jets will need to be approved by the government.

In December 2022, Japan teamed up with the UK and Italy to create a new fighter jet called the Tempest. These jets will have cool stuff like artificial intelligence and advanced sensors to help the pilots. This is the first time Japan has worked with a country other than the US on a defense project. They plan to start using these jets in 2035. The decision to sell them to other countries comes before Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's trip to the US in April. He wants to show that Japan is a good ally to the US and is ready to work together on defense.

Prime Minister Kishida says it's important to let other countries buy these warplanes so that Japan can be trusted in future defense projects. The government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, says it's really important to keep Japan's defenses secure and make sure these fighter jets with important features get made. But Defense Minister Minoru Kihara wants to make it clear that Japan still believes in peace and will be very careful about who they sell these jets to.

Japan has always been against war and using force to solve problems ever since World War Two. Their military is only for self-defense, and they used to not allow selling weapons to other countries. But in 2014, they started to relax the rules and now they're allowing the sale of these fighter jets. This is a big change for Japan and shows that they're moving away from their old beliefs.

Original news source: Japan to sell fighter jets in break from pacifism (BBC)

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into teams. Each team will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. fighter jet, defense agreement, military). The other teams will try to guess the word or phrase within a time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– News Summary
Instructions: Ask students to write a summary of the article in their own words. They should focus on the main points and key details. Afterward, have them share their summaries with a partner or in small groups. Encourage discussion and comparisons of different summaries.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article (e.g. "Japan should sell fighter jets to other countries" or "Countries should prioritize peace over military strength"). Have students indicate whether they agree or disagree with each statement by raising their hand or using a show of fingers. Once the poll is complete, facilitate a class discussion to explore the reasons behind their opinions.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to argue the pros of Japan selling fighter jets to other countries, and the other group to argue the cons. Give each group time to prepare their arguments, and then have a debate where each group presents their points. Encourage students to support their arguments with evidence from the article.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups to discuss and make predictions about the future of Japan's military and defense projects. They should consider factors such as the potential impact of selling fighter jets, the role of technology in warfare, and the geopolitical situation in East Asia. Afterward, have groups share their predictions with the class and engage in a discussion about different perspectives.

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1. What do you think about Japan selling fighter jets to other countries?
2. How would you feel if your country had a defense agreement with Japan and bought fighter jets from them?
3. Do you think it's important for Japan to strengthen its military? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the use of artificial intelligence and advanced sensors in fighter jets?
5. How do you think the US will react to Japan's decision to sell fighter jets to other countries?
6. Do you think Japan's decision to sell fighter jets will improve its relationship with the US? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if your country bought fighter jets from Japan?
8. What is the significance of Japan working with the UK and Italy on a defense project?
9. How do you think China and North Korea will react to Japan's decision to sell fighter jets?
10. Do you think it's important for Japan to be trusted in future defense projects? Why or why not?
11. How do you think Japan's decision to sell fighter jets will impact its relationship with China and North Korea?
12. Do you like the idea of using artificial intelligence in fighter jets? Why or why not?
13. How do you think Japan's decision to sell fighter jets reflects its stance on peace and war?
14. Do you believe that Japan's decision to sell fighter jets is a move away from its old beliefs? Why or why not?
15. How do you think Japan's decision to sell fighter jets will affect its international reputation?

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