JAPAN: Govt Poised to Play Role in U.S.-Led Campaign

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Oct 10 2001 (IPS) - After promising Washington its full support to the war on terrorism, and assuring China its involvement in the U.S.-led campaign will in no way revive its own military ambitions, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi now has to convince people at home who are wary of expanding the role of Japan’s Special Defense Forces (SDF).

Koizumi has asked parliament to pass legislation that would allow the country’s SDF to provide non-combat, rear-end logistical support to U.S. forces now bombing Afghanistan in retaliation for the Sep. 11 strikes in New York and Washington.

The move, a controversial development in post-war pacifist Japan, where the constitution restricts its armed forces only to domestic defence, will pave the way for the SDF to provide medical and other services including the shipment of supplies to the U.S. military engaged in military combat in Afghanistan.

In the Japanese parliament on Tuesday, Koizumi argued that the move is necessary given Japan’s close ties with the United States.

He is also advocating that SDF personnel carry weapons to protect themselves in case of a threat of danger to themselves.

“As I have said, time and again, the acts of terrorism on the U.S. are a grave challenge to the freedom and peace not only of the U.S. but also of the international community,” Koizumi told the Japanese Diet.

“Japan plans to cooperate with other countries, including the U.S. and confront such acts with firm resolve,” he said.

The proposed legislation is an expansionary step from the controversial SDF law that was passed in 1999 and formed a basis for more active participation with U.S. forces engaged in overseas conflicts, provided the Diet has been consulted.

Although the premier has not set a timetable for the enactment of the bills, ruling party officials want to see them passed before the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum slated for Oct 20-21 in Shanghai.

The House of Representatives has set up a special committee to discuss the two bills aimed at combating terrorism. One of them is aimed at enabling Japan to dispatch its Self-Defense Forces to provide rear- area non-combat support to the attacks in Afghanistan, which began Sunday night.

The other bill will revise the SDF law so that troops can be mobilised to protect U.S. military facilities in Japan as well as SDF facilities. Under current laws, only police can protect such institutions in situations other than a military emergency.

While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party controls both the Upper and Lower House in the Diet, Koziumi is keen to get the support of opposition parties against the bills in varying degrees.

Yukio Hatoyama, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, the second most popular political party, told a gathering: ” I believe (the ruling bloc) is of the idea that they want prime minister Koizumi to go to APEC with a gift,” referring to the bills’ enactment into law. “We should not let them carry out this plan.”

Analysts say that Koizumi, a highly popular politician known for his nationalist leanings, wants the ongoing American bombing to be an opportunity for Japan to carve a role for itself as an active participant in addressing international conflicts.

“Yes, definitely. Koizumi is very keen to have Japan play a significant role on the side of the Americans in the ongoing conflict,” says Professor Tomihisa Sakamoto, a defense analyst at Aoyama Gakuin University.

Sakamoto predicts the new bills will be watered down and be passed on condition that the Diet will have the authority to allow the SDF to work with the U.S. forces.

“While Koizumi is aware he has a majority in the Diet, he is keen to get the opposition parties to agree as well because the issue is a sensitive issue with the public,” explains Sakamoto.

Koizumi’s controversial gesture last August of paying respects to Japan’s war dead, including war criminals buried at Yasukuni Shrine, provoked a furore.

The visit, while applauded by some quarters at home, only caused a row between Japan and its Asian neighbours. South Korea and China, former Japanese colonies, lodged strong protests against the visit.

Koizumi’s trip to Beijing on Monday sought to allay Chinese fears that Tokyo is using the U.S.-led campaign on terrorism to revive its own military ambitions.

The proposed SDF law is also causing domestic concern. Demonstrations are being held across the country.

The 260,000-member National Trade Union Council is planning a sit-in in front of the Diet on Thursday to protest the deliberation of the bill. The union also issued a statement protesting the U.S.-British military action in Afghanistan and opposing the proposed SDF bill.

Nagakazu Sakakibara, leader of the 370,000-strong Japan Teachers Union, also criticised the U.S.-led air strikes, saying they would kill many innocent people and invite new hatred and more retaliation.