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Japanese forces to guard U.S. vessels in drill
The Japanese and US governments have begun arranging for Self-Defense Forces ships, by this summer, to protect US military vessels for the first time in peacetime, it has been learned.
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In this Oct. 23, 2016, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, reviews members of Japan Self-Defense Forces during a parade of the Self-Defense Forces Day at Asaka Base in Asaka, north of Tokyo. Japan’s ruling party is expected to approve a change in party rules Sunday, March 5, 2017, that could pave the way for Abe to become the country’s longest-serving leader in the post-World War II era.
(AP/Eugene Hoshiko)
T
he Japanese and US governments have begun arranging for Self-Defence Forces ships, by this summer, to protect US military vessels for the first time in peacetime, it has been learned.
Such protection became possible under the security-related laws, which saw the first anniversary of their enactment on Wednesday, and will be conducted as part of a joint exercise by the SDF and US forces.
Both countries intend to demonstrate strengthened bilateral cooperation to improve their deterrence against North Korea, which has been accelerating its nuclear and missile development, and China, which has been expanding its maritime advancement.
According to government sources, peacetime protection will be included for the first time in a joint drill by the Maritime Self-Defence Force and the US Navy, to be conducted from spring to summer this year.
When such protection is sought, the National Security Council (NSC) will receive a US request and examine the case. After that, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada will decide whether the request should be fulfilled.
The security-related laws expanded the range of situations in which the SDF can counterattack to protect weapons and other items if ships or aircraft are attacked in peacetime. Attacks on US and other foreign forces on a mission to defend Japan were also included.
This legally resolved a previous contradiction: The SDF had not been allowed to strike back even when it was close to US military vessels facing a sudden attack. The NSC adopted the new operational guidelines in December last year, but there has been no case to apply the rule to yet.
In the guidelines, SDF protection of this kind included the following cases: Japan-US joint exercises; information collection and vigilance and surveillance activities, including monitoring of North Korea’s ballistic missiles by Aegis-equipped vessels; transportation or resupplying activity by US forces in situations that will have an significant impact on Japan’s peace and security.
This article appeared on The Japan News newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
