Japan troops to begin training for new missions abroad

TOKYO (AA) – Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are set to start training for new missions abroad, following parliament’s passage of security laws aimed at expanding the scope of troops’ operations overseas.

On Saturday, local news agency Kyodo cited an unnamed government source as saying that the training due to be held in Japan could commence as soon as next Thursday.

The two new missions that the training will focus on include rescuing United Nations personnel and other people under attack, and defending UN peacekeepers’ barracks alongside other countries’ security forces if they are attacked.

The security laws were passed last September and came into effective in March.

They followed a 2014 decision by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet to re-interpret the country’s pacifist post-World War II constitution to permit “collective defense” -- meaning the ability to support allies near Japan or partners in foreign peacekeeping operations.

Before the enactment, however, Japanese soldiers were legally constrained from coming to the aid of other peacekeeping contingents if they came under attack by armed groups. That could be construed as “collective defense” and thus was unconstitutional.

The government source said that Defense Minister Tomomi Inada could make a formal announcement on the new training next week.

According to Kyodo, no new training has been held since the laws became effective amid government concerns about any possible negative impact on public opinion ahead of a July upper house election, which Abe’s ruling coalition won by a landslide.