The government appears to be on the verge of expediting a bill that would give it permanent authority to send Self-Defense Forces on postconflict missions abroad.
"We plan to draw up general principles first, and then draft a law," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Thursday. "If the Diet allows, we would like to do it as early as possible."
Fukuda's remarks suggest such a bill could be submitted to the next ordinary session, which convenes in January.