Japan's Abe Vows to Back Bill Allowing Overseas Military Operations

Japanese lawmakers adopted a bill, removing many restrictions on the Japanese army's activities in order to allow the country's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) operations overseas.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to bolster new security legislation that would expand the country's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) operations overseas, NHK World News reported Sunday.

On Friday, Japanese lawmakers formally adopted a bill, removing many restrictions on the Japanese army's activities, including in the sphere of cooperation and logistic support of foreign military. The legislation still has to be approved by the parliament in May.

"The international situation is constantly changing whether we like it or not. We should take decisive action to fulfill the pledge never to go to war again just as previous generations have done," Abe was quoted as saying by NHK.

Japan was deprived of any military capability following the World War II. Under the Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, Japan is not allowed to keep armed forces with war potential. Its security relies upon the US military and a minor internal police force.

However, in July 2014 Tokyo reinterpreted the article, extending the powers of the SDF by allowing it to support Japan's allies in case of an officially declared war.

In January, IS militants beheaded two Japanese nationals in retaliation for the country’s $200-million pledge in humanitarian aid for IS-affected countries. However, according to a Kyodo News survey, most of the Japanese remained confident that Japan's support for the anti-terror coalition should remain purely non-military.