BEIJING — Japan is preparing the policy ground for joint international development of combat aircraft, warships and electronic systems, with the creation of a government-industry group to study the issue. As the country inches toward a historic change of defense industrial policy, the group will look at how Japan’s almost blanket ban on arms exports could be revisited to help preserve its industrial base.

BEIJING—The Comac C919 may present unusually difficult problems in base maintenance costs for some years after it enters service, since early production is likely to be slow and the operating fleet likely will be shared between three Chinese heavy maintenance shops.

The court supervising the bankruptcy of Japan Airlines Corp. has approved the carrier’s rehabilitation plan. The approval was expected because it was backed by Japan Airlines’ creditors. It opens the way for the company to reduce staff to 32,600 by March 31, down from 48,714 a year earlier. The disposal of mostly peripheral subsidiaries, already underway, is part of the strategy and accounts for many of the job cuts.