機関銃図面、中国に流出　経産省、住友重機に厳重注意

　住友重機械工業が陸上自衛隊に納入するために作製した試験用機関銃の設計図の一部が、中国企業に流出していたことが２１日までに分かった。外為法は防衛装備品の海外移転には経済産業相の事前許可を得るよう規定しており、経産省は同社の下請け企業が法令に違反したとして両社を４月２８日付で厳重注意した。
　経産省によると、住友重機は機関銃製造に向けて下請け企業に一部部品の図面を提供していたが、この下請け企業が量産化をにらんで中国企業に図面を渡していた。部品は機関銃の性能が分かるようなものではなかった。今回の流出は住友重機が申し出て発覚した。（2021/05/21-19:54）

Blueprints for components of a prototype machine gun made by Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. for delivery to the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force were partially leaked to a Chinese company, according to informed sources.
   As the leakage constitutes a law violation, the Japanese industry ministry issued warnings on April 28 to Sumitomo Heavy and a subcontracted firm that leaked the blueprints.
   Japan's foreign exchange law stipulates that companies must obtain permission in advance from the industry minister for defense equipment transfers.
   According to the industry ministry, Sumitomo Heavy had provided the subcontracted firm with the blueprints of some components in preparation for the start of the machine gun's production. Anticipating that the machine gun will be mass-produced in the future, the subcontractor gave the blueprints to the Chinese company.
   The components in question were not something that can reveal the functions of the machine gun.