The Defense Agency is considering creating a standing unit of the Self-Defense Forces dedicated to peacekeeping, antiterrorism and other overseas operations, agency officials said Tuesday.
The move to set up what is tentatively referred to as an international contribution corps is in line with an earlier suggestion by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that Japan enact a permanent law authorizing SDF missions abroad, including those not under U.N. auspices, the officials said.
Under a two-year law, SDF overseas activities are limited to joining U.N. peacekeeping operations and providing humanitarian assistance, as well as helping with logistic support in the Arabian Sea as part of the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign in Afghanistan.