The Cabinet on Tuesday approved new guidelines for foreign aid, stipulating for the first time that Japan can fund foreign military forces, although the assistance must be for "nonmilitary purposes."
Some analysts call that a contradiction, saying Japan won't be able to ensure that its overseas development assistance remains exclusively nonmilitary.
It is the first revision of the basic policy on foreign aid in 11½ years. The new doctrine declares that Japan will use its development aid to contribute to the global society in line with its national interest.