Japan's ruling party urges caution over Middle East military mission
Tokyo — A senior official from Japan’s ruling party on Sunday called for a “cautious” decision regarding the deployment of Self-Defence Forces to the conflict-stricken Middle East to escort vessels and ensure safe passage.
Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party, stated in a television programme that he “would not rule out the possibility of escort operations from a legal perspective,” but that such deployment would be “a very significant hurdle.”
Under the Self-Defence Forces Law, the government can order SDF personnel to escort ships related to Japan for protection as maritime security operations, which permit the use of weapons.
SDF activities abroad have been restricted under Japan’s constitution, which renounces war. The government has expanded the SDF’s overseas role through security legislation that came into force in 2016, but the dispatch of troops to areas where they could engage in combat remains controversial.
Mitsunari Okamoto, policy chief of the reform-minded centrist alliance, stated on television that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi should not make hasty commitments, even though US President Donald Trump has requested Japanese SDF activities in the Middle East at a meeting scheduled for Thursday in the United States.
Trump stated on Saturday on social media that he wants Japan, among other nations, to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure security of that vital energy shipping route, which Iran has effectively closed in retaliation for attacks by the US and Israel.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump was quoted as saying it was unclear whether Iran had laid mines in the strait, but noted: “We will sweep the Strait of Hormuz very powerfully, and we believe we will join with other nations that are somewhat hampered in getting oil.”
The SDF can be deployed abroad to assist the US and other allied nations if they are attacked by armed forces and the situation is deemed to threaten Japan’s survival, even if Japan itself is not attacked. This is known as the exercise of the right of collective self-defence.
In situations deemed to have significant impact on Japan’s peace and security, the SDF can engage in logistical support for military activities by the US and other nations.
So far, the government has determined that conditions have not been met in the current situation to permit SDF deployment under either of these two scenarios.
During parliamentary discussions on Japan’s security legislation in 2015, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mentioned SDF deployment for mine-sweeping operations if the Strait of Hormuz were to be closed, stating that such a blockade could negatively impact the public.
Japan depends on the Middle East for over 90 per cent of its crude oil and 11 per cent of its liquefied natural gas.