Defense report emphasizes SDF activities abroad

The Koizumi Cabinet on July 6 approved an annual defense report that puts emphasis on overseas activities as the Self-Defense Forces' main mission within the framework of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty setup.

The report said that Japan needs to enhance its readiness to quickly deploy SDF units to any region where they are needed for peace-keeping activities, in efforts to thwart and eradicate terrorism, provide humanitarian assistance, or help in the prevention of a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Stressing the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance, the report suggested that Japan will keep its cooperative relationship with the U.S. in response to the wide-ranging international tasks.

The report referred to the opinion expressed in the Diet calling for the Constitution to be revised to allow Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense.

It stated for the first time that the government will review its Three Principles of Weapons Export that prohibits Japan's export of arms. (end)