The Defense Agency plans to seek government approval to acquire a tanker aircraft for aerial refueling for the Air Self-Defense Force in the next fiscal year.

The procurement, estimated to cost 20 billion yen, is part of a 4.99 trillion yen budget request for fiscal 2001 the agency plans to submit to the government, according to government sources.

At present, the ASDF has no aerial refueling capability, in light of Japan's defense doctrine that Japanese armed forces are intended exclusively for the country's defense.

Military experts say the capability to refuel in flight would extend the scope of operation for Japanese warplanes -- and thus poses a potential threat to neighboring countries.

Defense Agency chief Kazuo Torashima emphasized the need for tanker aircraft when he spoke Tuesday to reporters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, saying the agency hopes its budget request will survive government screening.

It is uncertain, however, whether the Defense Agency will get its way.

Last year, the Defense Agency was forced to scrap its plans to request funding for an air tanker following strong opposition from then Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka.

Nonaka, currently secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, scuttled the Defense Agency's plan, arguing that providing the ASDF with aerial refueling capability could be provocative to Japan's neighbors.

New Komeito, the LDP's key coalition partner, also objected to the Defense Agency plan.

Meanwhile, the Defense Agency also plans to set up an antiguerrilla force in Tokyo as part of its spending program for fiscal 2001.

The new antiguerrilla unit, to be set up within the Ground Self-Defense Force, will consist of five 200-member companies that will be formed by restructuring four existing infantry regiments, agency sources said.

The unit will be equipped with highly mobile vehicles, helicopters and short-range surface-to-air missiles, they said.

The agency wants to establish the antiguerrilla unit because it believes there is a possibility that foreign elements could commit subversive acts in Tokyo, security experts said.

In addition, the sources said, the agency is contemplating an infantry regiment of about 660 members to be based in Nagasaki Prefecture to counter potential guerrilla attacks on and incursions into remote islands.

Together, the agency is seeking antiguerrilla appropriations of about 3.5 billion yen as part of the 4.99 trillion yen defense budget -- an increase of 1.4 percent over a year earlier.

The total defense budget will also cover expenses for expanding recruitment of reserve officers to ordinary adults and college students.

Currently only former officers of the Self-Defense Forces can be registered as reserves, the sources said.