Japan's SDF reported to plan overseas operation in S. Sudan on assumption of security bills approval

An internal document of the Japanese Defense Ministry (MOD) showed that the Self-Defense Forces had planned to allow its members engaged in U.N. peacekeeping operations in South Sudan based on the assumption that security bills which is under debate will be passed, local media has reported.

The document from the ministry's Joint Staff was revealed on Tuesday by Akira Koike, policy committee chair of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP), at a meeting of the House of Councillors' panel on peace and security laws.

According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, the document is believed to have been compiled in May when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet approved security bills that would significantly expand the scope of the SDF's operations overseas.

Security-related bills are currently under debate in parliament, but the MOD has foreseen and listed the follow-up agenda in this document, including"the security bills could be passed in August at the earliest to take effect around next February." The document also described the cooperation adjustment between SDF and the U.S. forces as"military to military"activities when referring to the adjustment of Japan-U.S. alliance.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani admitted to the existence of the internal document but refused to confirm its content in detail. "The MOD and SDF have started to plan operations before the passage of the controversial bills, that's almost the same with the reckless behaviors by the Japanese troops in pre-war era. Abe government should withdraw the security bills immediately,"Koike revealed.

The security bills would allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense, or coming to the aid of the United States or other friendly nations under armed attack even if Japan itself is not attacked, in a major shift in Japan's post-World War II exclusively defense-oriented security policy.

However, recent opinion polls indicate a majority of Japanese voters oppose the legislation, which opponents say would make it likelier for Japan to be involved in war. Endi