Japan plans to revise SDF law to expand role

The Japanese government plans to revise the Self-Defense Forces law next year to upgrade the international peacekeeping to a basic duty, a major newspaper said Sunday.

The revision would also add additional 1,000 personnel to the current 2,000 limit on overseas mission in an order to accelerate operations and return for emergency as soon as possible, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.

Sending troops abroad is sensitive and controversial in Japan. Japan, however, is steadily moving toward the ambition to find a bigger arena for the SDF by rolling out revisions and new legislation. The SDF sent mine sweepers after the first Gulf War in 1991, the first overseas military operation since the end of World War II. It enacted a law in the following year, legitimizingits participation of UN peacekeeping operations.

The envisioned troop would take training on facility and road revamping as well as guarding. At the same time, the maritime and air troops would strengthen maintenance of vessels and aircraft to provide support, the daily said.

Japan currently has more than 500 ground troops in southern Iraq to offer humanitarian aid. Its warships and support vessels also are cruising on the Indian Ocean to back US-led operations in Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua