Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun
New criteria that could significantly expand the Self-Defense Forces’ ability to provide logistic support to multinational forces, formed on the basis of a U.N. Security Council resolution, were proposed by the government at a meeting of the ruling parties on security Tuesday.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito held the third meeting of the ruling parties’ panel concerning the development of a legal system for security in the Diet. The panel has been discussing various issues, including reinterpretation of the Constitution to enable the country to exercise the right to collective self-defense. The panel is chaired by LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura.
Under the government’s proposal, Japanese logistical support for multinational forces operating under a U.N. mandate could be prohibited if all four of the following conditions exist:
—Units to which logistic support will be extended are already engaged in combat.
—Supplies and services to be provided will be used directly for combat.
—The delivery location for logistic support is within a combat zone.
—The nature of logistic support provided is closely related to the combat activities in which the supported units are engaged.
The government says the SDF will be allowed to provide rear-echelon support for multinational forces, in principle, unless the support meets all of the four criteria. If all the criteria are met, such support would be considered “integrated with the use of force” by other countries, which is prohibited by Article 9 of the Constitution.
Previously, the government permitted logistic support—such as transport and supply operations, which are not regarded as use of force—only in noncombat zones and on the basis of special measures laws such as the special measures law for the reconstruction of Iraq.
Under the new standards, SDF activities that are not considered to be integrated with the use of force will be broadly permitted, including in areas other than noncombat zones. Some activities will also be allowed in “combat zones.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Komeito asked the government what kind of support the SDF will be able, or unable, to provide based on the four criteria. The party requested that the government provide their answer at the next meeting.
Also at the meeting, the government and ruling parties started discussions on the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. The government explained eight scenarios in which SDF activities can be considered to involve the use of force, among 15 scenarios that it says the country is unable to deal with under the current interpretation of the Constitution and the current legal system.
Meanwhile, the LDP and Komeito agreed to increase the frequency of panel meetings from the current once a week to about twice a week to enable further discussion of the SDF’s logistic support and the right to collective self-defense. The two parties plan to hold the next meeting by the end of this week.
New criteria that could significantly expand the Self-Defense Forces’ ability to provide logistic support to multinational forces, formed on the basis of a U.N. Security Council resolution, were proposed by the government at a meeting of the ruling parties on security Tuesday.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito held the third meeting of the ruling parties’ panel concerning the development of a legal system for security in the Diet. The panel has been discussing various issues, including reinterpretation of the Constitution to enable the country to exercise the right to collective self-defense. The panel is chaired by LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura.
Under the government’s proposal, Japanese logistical support for multinational forces operating under a U.N. mandate could be prohibited if all four of the following conditions exist:
—Units to which logistic support will be extended are already engaged in combat.
—Supplies and services to be provided will be used directly for combat.
—The delivery location for logistic support is within a combat zone.
—The nature of logistic support provided is closely related to the combat activities in which the supported units are engaged.
The government says the SDF will be allowed to provide rear-echelon support for multinational forces, in principle, unless the support meets all of the four criteria. If all the criteria are met, such support would be considered “integrated with the use of force” by other countries, which is prohibited by Article 9 of the Constitution.
Previously, the government permitted logistic support—such as transport and supply operations, which are not regarded as use of force—only in noncombat zones and on the basis of special measures laws such as the special measures law for the reconstruction of Iraq.
Under the new standards, SDF activities that are not considered to be integrated with the use of force will be broadly permitted, including in areas other than noncombat zones. Some activities will also be allowed in “combat zones.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Komeito asked the government what kind of support the SDF will be able, or unable, to provide based on the four criteria. The party requested that the government provide their answer at the next meeting.
Also at the meeting, the government and ruling parties started discussions on the exercise of the right to collective self-defense. The government explained eight scenarios in which SDF activities can be considered to involve the use of force, among 15 scenarios that it says the country is unable to deal with under the current interpretation of the Constitution and the current legal system.
Meanwhile, the LDP and Komeito agreed to increase the frequency of panel meetings from the current once a week to about twice a week to enable further discussion of the SDF’s logistic support and the right to collective self-defense. The two parties plan to hold the next meeting by the end of this week.
