Japan Pursues Permanent Laws For Overseas Dispatch of Self Defense Forces

Japan`s Liberal Democratic Party and other two coalition ruling parties had a general meeting of the House of Councilors early Saturday morning and passed a ‘Bill for special measures for the reconstruction of Iraq that allows the dispatch of the Self Defense Forces to Iraq’.

So, the Japanese government decided to dispatch 1,000 of Self Defense Force personnel to Iraq after November and inspectors next month and decided to prepare for the dispatch of its troops in earnest.

The opposition parties such as the Democratic Party opposed to the bill as there is no clear justification for the bill and over the concerns of Iraqi insurgents’ attack on the Self Defense Forces, but couldn’t stop passing the bill.

“We talked it over enough, People will be able to understand later (after the dispatch) about it.,” said Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi after passing the bill.

The bill is valid for 4 years and allows humanitarian aids for Iraq’s reconstruction, Self Defense Forces to involve in non-combat areas and to support U.S. and British forces` peace keeping activities in the rear. The bill also states to consider transportation of weapons and ammunition.

The ruling parties have been reportedly trying to make the bill to be permanent laws to prevent possible disputes that could occur by passing new separate bills each time it tries to send the Self Defense Force personnel overseas.

“For the last 2 years since Koizumi took office as Prime Minister, the frame for the Japan`s national security has dramatically altered by passing new bills such as a bill for special measures against terrorism, 3 bills concerning issues in case of war and the bill,” reported Mainichi Paper.

Meanwhile, Chinese government urged Japanese government over a statement Sunday to strictly maintain the ‘Defense Only Principle’ stated in the constitution. “For the Japan`s national interests, it is wiser to sincerely maintain the ‘Defense Only Principle’ that pursues peace and prosperity, and also by maintaining the principle Japan can contribute much to the world peace and stability,” a Chinese government spokesman said.

Hun-Joo Cho Yoo-Sung Hwang hanscho@donga.com yshwang@donga.com