Asia Centre

The opposition seized on two scandals to hold up the start of debate in the Upper Chamber. The one concerned a case of corruption implicating Moriya Takemasa, a former administrative Head of the Ministry of Defence. This was the fact that the fuel supplied by the the Self-Defence Forces in the Indian Ocean went to ships that were used by the United States in Iraq (an “association with the use of force”, forbidden by article 9 of the Constitution) without the SDF informing their Minister.

The Minshutō indicated in October that it was hoping that the SDF would take part in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF, mandated by the ONU under NATO supervision) and that they would give food and medical aid, as well bolster administrative and police structures[1]. It also proposed sending non-uniformed SDF members, attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of civilian regional action groups, once favourable conditions had been created to enable civilians to be sent[2]. The proposal, made on 21 December, “for the eradication and the prevention of international terrorism and to help in the reconstruction of Afghanistan” (“kokusaitekina terorizumu no bōshi oyobi konzetsu no tame no afuganisutan fukkōshientō ni kansuru tokubetsusochihōan”) restricts the deployment of the SDF to those regions where there is a ceasefire in place and to providing humanitarian aid. Supply of oil would be a possibility if based on a United Nations Security Council resolution. The SDF are given the right to use their weapons to remove an obstacle that would otherwise prevent them from accomplishing their mission (something excluded by the law as it stands at present)[3].

Public opinion, although in favour of the government’s draft bill, does not want it to be rushed through Parliament[4]. It would, however, have understood the need for this if the Minshutō had appeared to be just stonewalling for the sake of it. The Minshutō therefore resolved to put its own proposal to the House, although this is highly unlikely to get through as the Party has only a relative majority of seats (fewer than 121). In any case, the government and some NGOs are already engaged in civilian humanitarian aid work, and ceasefires or UN resolutions seem rather unlikely.[5].

The subject of Japan’s role in the fight against terrorism in the Indian Ocean was raised during Mr Fukuda’s visit to the United States on 16 November, and later during the visit to Tōkyō by the secretary-general of NATO. The government is not in principle opposed to participating in the ISAF which would enable Japan to put in place the closer cooperation NATO is hoping for.  aux États-Unis le 16 novembre, puis lors de la visite du secrétaire général de l’Otan à Tōkyō. Le gouvernement n’est pas opposé au principe d’une participation à l’ISAF qui permettrait au Japon de mettre en œuvre la coopération plus étroite à laquelle il aspire avec l’Otan.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was in Tōkyō on 13 December for his second visit after first being there in April 2005. Meanwhile, Abe Shinzō and the Defence Minister, Kyūma Fumio, had gone to Brussels, in January and May respectively. High-level discussions were also held in Tōkyō in March, part of an ongoing series that have taken place on a regular basis since 1990. Japan has observer status for some NATO exercises, and also takes part in some of its seminars (on proliferation, and assistance to Afghanistan, for example). It participates in twelve of the projects carried out by NATO’s regional reconstruction teams, and in December sent an officer to liaise with NATO’s representative in Kabul.