Japan trains for expanded overseas role

By Todd Crowell

TOKYO – Five months after Japan’s new and controversial security laws came into effect, Tokyo is preparing to put them into practical operation with a new mission to South Sudan.

The new defense minister, Tomomi Inada, recently announced that when the current contingent in the African nation’s tour ends in October, it will be replaced with another army unit specially trained to come to the aid of endangered allies.

Japan contributes some of its armed forces to specifically authorized United Nations peacekeeping and anti-piracy missions.

It has maintained a force of around 350 military engineers in South Sudan since 2012, while the total U.N. contingent is about 4,000 troops.

Under Japan’s pacifistic constitution, however, they were allowed only to protect themselves if they come under direct attack from one of the warring factions or terrorists.

It was not authorized to come to the aid of other military or civilian groups under attack.

Such an action would violate the constitution, which was then interpreted as outlawing “collective defense”, or coming to the aid of an ally or peacekeeping partner.

That changed in 2012 when the constitution was re-interpreted to permit such defense.

The enabling legislation that soon followed was widely opposed in Japan and brought out the largest demonstrations in years.

There were, however, no such demonstrations for the recent announcement.

The previous restrictions could create absurd situations as when in 2013 the South Korean army contingent in South Sudan, running short of bullets, tried to borrow 10,000 rounds of small arms ammunition from the Japanese.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved the transfer, saying it was consistent with his own interpretation of “Proactive pacifism” -- but the Koreans returned the bullets so as not to further embarrass the Japanese after their supplies arrived.

This situation illustrates one reason why Japan was considered dead weight by other peacekeepers in similar situations where Tokyo has contributed soldiers.

One of the first things that the new defense minister did after achieving office in the recent cabinet reshuffle was to visit the small African country of Djibouti, which hosts Japan’s only permanent overseas base. It supports anti-piracy missions along the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.

It is anticipated that the replacement units, drawn from Japan’s 9th Division in northern Honshu, will be stationed in the more peaceful southern part of South Sudan, and would come to the aid of nearby units under attack and not go hunting for trouble.

Defense Minister Inada suggested in interviews with the Japanese press that more training missions are in the offing to prepare Japanese troops for the expanded roles in peacekeeping and coordinating with allies such as the United States.

“It is important for the SDF [Self Defense Forces] to receive training for what has been allowed by the constitution,” she said.

South Sudan was born around five years ago, and it has experienced nothing but turmoil ever since. A power sharing agreement recently collapsed.

Earlier this month, the United Nations Security Council approved renewing the Peacekeeping operation in the African country.