A House of Councilors panel approved a bill Thursday to expand the scope of Self-Defense Forces participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
The panel's move paves the way for the bill's enactment in an Upper House plenary session today.
The bill would lift a self-imposed ban on SDF participation in the main operations of U.N. peacekeeping forces. It was passed with support from panel members of the ruling coalition and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan at the Upper House's foreign affairs and defense committee.
It bill would revise a 1992 law to allow Japan to ease restrictions on the use of weapons by SDF troops on peacekeeping missions and expand their role to include monitoring truces and disarmament processes, being stationed in and patrolling buffer zones, inspecting the loading and unloading of weapons, and collecting and disposing of abandoned arms.
Under current laws, SDF troops are only allowed to engage in construction, transportation, and assistance for refugees and dislocated people.
The bill would allow SDF troops to use weapons to protect people "under their control," a provision also included in a special antiterrorism law enacted Oct. 29.
SDF troops would be able to protect foreign peacekeeping personnel in SDF camps as well as local residents under their protection. In addition, SDF troops would be able to use weapons to prevent seizure of their arms. SDF troops are currently only allowed to use weapons to protect themselves.