The exemption is made on conditions that the vessels are to be used in limited purposes including fighting terrorism and piracy and that they are not be transferred to a third country without Japan's consent, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said in a statement, according to Kyodo News.

    The three patrol boats, each with a length of 27 meters, can sail at a speed of 30 nautical miles per hour, are worth 1.92 billion yen (16.84 million U.S. dollar) in total.

    The boats are considered "vessels for military purposes" as they are equipped with bulletproof glass and are heavily armored and would normally fall within the scope of Japan's ban on arms export.

    The top government spokesman said that the move is in Japan's national interest, as pirates pose a "direct threat" to Japan's economy and the safety of Japanese nationals engaged in maritime transport.

    The Japanese government decided in 1976 to refrain from all arms exports regardless of destination. In 2004, Japan eased its arms control to allow exports related to missile defense to the United States.

    Japan and Indonesia are slated to conclude an official agreement over the donation in Jakarta on Wednesday, foreign ministry officials said. Enditem