The Abe government plans to make Diet approval mandatory as part of a proposed "permanent law" that would allow Japanese troops to extend logistic support to foreign militaries abroad, according to a government source.
The move is aimed at dispelling concern that civilian control could be compromised if constitutional restraints are loosened on Japan's military.
It also represents a bid to secure the support of the Liberal Democratic Party's junior ruling coalition partner, Komeito, which remains wary of giving the SDF an expanded scope of operations overseas, the source said Thursday.