Japan to Allow Larger Peacekeeping Role For SDF

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Japan to Allow Larger Peacekeeping Role For SDF

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a bill to ease restrictions on Self-Defense Forces (SDF) activities in U.N. peacekeeping operations abroad, Kyodo News reported.

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a bill to ease restrictions on Self-Defense Forces (SDF) activities in U.N. peacekeeping operations abroad, Kyodo News reported.

The bill, passed during a cabinet meeting, is likely to be enacted by the end of the parliament session on December 7, the report quoted government officials as saying.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan is expected to support the bill along with the three-party ruling coalition made up of the Liberal Democratic Party, The New Conservative Party and The New Komeito Party.

The bill, which will amend the 1992 law on Japan's peacekeeping missions, is aimed at lifting a self-imposed freeze on activities such as monitoring cease-fires, disarming local forces, patrolling demilitarized zones and collecting and disposing abandoned weapons,the officials said.

The SDF has so far taken part in building infrastructure and providing transportation and medical support under the 1992 Law Concerning Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations.

The law currently allows SDF personnel to only use weapons to protect themselves and their fellow troops. But the amendments will allow them to use weapons to protect those "under their control" such as troops from other countries, refugees and officials from the United Nations and other international organizations.

The ruling coalition and the government have expedited the law revisions to enable SDF participation in a future U.N. peacekeeping mission to war-torn Afghanistan.

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