The ruling tripartite coalition has agreed to submit a bill to the Diet in the fall that would allow the Self-Defense Forces to inspect ships when enforcing U.N. sanctions, government officials said.

The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party agreed Friday to submit the bill during a meeting of their security project team.

The proposal was originally included in a bill submitted by the government in April 1998, but the clause was removed before its enactment in May 1999. It was one of three aimed at strengthening security ties with the United States by specifying cooperation with the U.S. military during crises near Japan.

The clause was removed in April 1999 due to opposition from then coalition partner the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party objected because it did not want the inspections limited to "situations in areas surrounding Japan."

However, following the Liberal Party's secession from the coalition earlier this year -- with some of its members remaining and forming the New Conservative Party -- the clause has been revived.

The SDF will -- if the bill is passed -- be able to inspect vessels other than warships, ask for their destinations and demand they change course when necessary.

A coalition official has said it will be "difficult for the public to understand" how a clause once removed from a bill can be resubmitted.

The ship inspection clause was initially part of a bill authorizing the SDF to take various measures to provide rear-area logistic support to the U.S. military in the event of emergencies near Japan.

The other two bills revised the Japan-U.S. Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement to expand bilateral cooperation to include the supply of fuel and material during crises near Japan and amended the SDF law to enable SDF ships to be dispatched to evacuate Japanese citizens in other countries.