The Japanese government on Friday approved at a cabinet meeting the 2008 defense white paper, which stresses the necessity to constitute a permanent law enabling the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF).
It was the first time for the annual defense paper to clearly point out the controversial topic.
It is the most optimal choice for Japan to constitute a permanent law on sending the SDF abroad in order to play the nation's role of peace and cooperation, the paper says.
It adds that all of Japan's international peace and cooperation activities are currently conducted by passing special measures laws.
The paper boasts the Maritime Self-Defense Force's winning commendation of the international society for its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, and reiterates that the mission is in the national interests of Japan, which depends the Middle East on resources. It also claims that the Air Self-Defense Force is to continue its airlifting mission in Iraq.
Because of Japan's pacifist Constitution, any overseas peacekeeping operations are required to get the authorization of anew law. The Japanese government has long been eager to establish a permanent law enabling automatic dispatch of the SDF without new legislation which often invites fierce and lengthy debates between the ruling and opposition parties in the Diet.
On the military cooperation with the United States, the paper says the Japan-U.S. alliance is not only significant for Japan's security, but also for the entire Asia-Pacific region's peace and stability and the improvement of the international security environment. It states the necessity for Japan to maintain and reinforce the Japan-U.S. security system and supports further cooperation between Japan and the United States on ballistic missile shield.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article