Unveiling the Controversy: Japanese Robots in Israel’s Military Supply Chain

Earlier this year in Japan, activists criticized a major robotics manufacturer for allegedly leveraging conflicts, such as the war in Gaza, for profit, claiming it contravened its ethical guidelines by supporting the Israeli defense sector.

During a demonstration at the FANUC Corporation’s main office, participants from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement urged the major Japanese firm to sever all connections with Israel and its defense contributors.

“We urge FANUC to avoid being an accomplice in acts like genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” remarked Taizo Imano, a leader at the event, in June.

Imano, along with his fellow BDS proponents, argued that Japan might be violating its own export regulations—a situation which could critically influence Israel’s procurement of sophisticated machinery for defense purposes. He added that providing such equipment to a nation accused of ongoing severe violations could be seen as non-compliance with international norms, though some experts suggest the issue may be more complex.

FANUC has flatly rejected that claim. (And Israel has denied claims that it is committing genocide against Palestinians.) While the company has not responded to WIRED’s requests for comments, a spokesperson for FANUC told HuffPost’s Japanese-language site in March that “when we sell products for Israel, we will carry out the necessary transaction screening.” If the end use of the technology is for military use, they wrote, the company will decide “not to sell.”

The activists, however, highlight how blurry the line between civilian and military technology has grown in recent years—and how difficult it can be to foresee the ways this kind of technology will be used one, two, or 15 years into the future. Trade lawyers consulted by WIRED say the law is both clear and outdated.

FANUC, based in Yamanashi Prefecture, is one of the largest robotics companies in the world, posting nearly $6 billion in sales during the 2023 fiscal year. The company’s robotic arms and automated systems are ubiquitous on automotive assembly plants, capable of doing the high-accuracy welding and laser work necessary in aerospace manufacturing, and have become commonplace in plastics, packaging, and a variety of other sectors.

As one of the world’s largest robotics companies, FANUC has also historically exported its kit to the North America and European defense industry. Its robots have been part of the F-35 manufacturing process for more than a decade; it previously worked with GE to produce onboard electronics for the M1A2 Abrams tank; FANUC robots are used in Raytheon’s missile production in Arizona; and it helped the United Kingdom create a quick and efficient production process for its 155-mm artillery shells.

Technologies that serve both civil and military purposes are often categorized as “dual use” technologies. These are closely regulated by export control regimes to monitor their use and distribution, sometimes making exceptions for ally nations.

Juxtaposing this, Japan, for instance, facilitates the export of dual-use technologies to allies like the United States and Europe, based on mutual trust under Japanese law. This allows firms in these countries to use Japanese technologies in arms production and their subsequent export to others, keeping in line with respective national controls.

This scenario has sparked criticism from BDS activists who urge FANUC to sever ties with American defense contractors such as General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, notable for selling advanced weapons to Israel. Activist Imano expressed in June, a stringent demand for the discontinuation of such corporate partnerships and future dealings.

Additionally, claims have risen against FANUC, as activists believe it interacts with Israeli military companies. “FANuc provides robots, maintenance, and inspection services to Israeli companies like Elbit Systems,” Imano asserted.

FANUC has denied this charge. “When we sell products to Israel, we carry out the necessary transaction screening in accordance with Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, confirm the user’s business activities and intended use, and do not sell to Israel if the products are for military use,” the company wrote to HuffPost.

The company added that, after reviewing their records of the past five years, “we have not sold any products for military use to the Israeli companies Elbit Systems, IAI, BSEL, Rosenshine Plast, or AMI from our company or our European subsidiary. We have also not sold any products for military use to other Israeli companies from our company or our European subsidiary.” The company identified one instance where one of their robotic arms had been sold to an Israeli company that produces military hardware “after confirming that the machine was to be used for civilian medical purposes.”

At the same time, the company admitted that when they sell through intermediaries, of which Israel has several, they are not always able to guarantee “who the final customer is.”

There is, however, ample evidence that suggests FANUC arms have made their way into the Israel defense manufacturing sector. Multiple job listings posted by Elbit Systems, the primary domestic supplier of the Israel Defense Forces, list “knowledge of FANUC … controls” as either an advantage to job applicants or a requirement. One such job listing, from June, comes from Elbit Cyclone, the division that won a contract to produce fuselage components for the F-35 fighter jet. In January, Israel’s Ministry of Defense published a video showing a FANUC robotic arm at an Elbit factory, handling munitions.

Over a decade ago, Bet Shemesh Engines (BSEL), an Israeli firm, produced marketing videos and displayed images on their website showcasing FANUC robotic arms. A former employee’s resume indicated the use of FANUC robotics in assembling aircraft engines, which are potentially for civilian use. The Israeli Air Force is listed as one of BSEL’s significant clients.

These Israeli companies did not respond to comment requests.

Kenneth Wolf, an expert in international trade law and a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, stated that the accusations against FANUC involving dual-use technology are not straightforward. He referred to Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, explaining that items are regulated based on whether they appear on a specific control list; if they do, they are regulated, if not, they are not. He noted that while certain types of robotics, such as underwater robots and materials processing robots, are on Japan’s control list, there isn’t a broad category covering robotic arms or numerical control devices.

Wolf suggests that Japanese export controls are unlikely to apply to any possible exports from FANUC to Elbit, even if these were done directly and with awareness. This view is echoed by another legal expert familiar with the subject.

Protesters argue that beyond potentially breaching Japanese law, FANUC is violating its own policies too. In 2019, the company implemented a human rights policy which states, “When it is clear that our business has caused or engaged in negative human rights impacts, we will endeavor to remedy them.”

As the intense conflict in Gaza persists, potentially leading to wider regional conflicts, companies that might support Israel’s military actions, directly or indirectly, are likely to face ongoing scrutiny, regardless of the technicalities of export law.

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