The Ground Self-Defense Force on Monday partially opened to the media exercises for potentially dangerous new mission parameters during U.N. peacekeeping operations in South Sudan starting next month.
The new parameters, enabled by security legislation that took effect in March, have stirred controversy in Japan as they could draw the Self-Defense Forces into combat for the first time since World War II.
GSDF personnel will have more leeway in their use of weapons, which had previously been limited to self-defense purposes and dealing with emergencies. Citing security, the GSDF did not allow the media to view training involving weapons use.