17 November 2016•Update: 18 November 2016
By Todd Crowell
- The author is a long-term resident of Japan and a renowned specialist in Asia-Pacific politics, affairs and intelligence
TOKYO
Japanese soldiers leave Sunday for South Sudan under new rules that permit them to use weapons to defend themselves or other peacekeeping units under attack.
Such participation in international peacekeeping missions had previously been constrained by the country's famous pacifistic constitution, which prohibited Japan from using force to settle conflicts.
The deployment is the first practical application of new security rules that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration pushed through parliament in 2015 in the face of great opposition.
The new force will replace about 350 Japanese peacekeepers who have been on duty with the United Nations’ South Sudan peacekeeping mission since 2012. It is the first armed unit from Japan since the country began peacekeeping operations under the UN in 1992.
On an October visit to Juba -- the capital of South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in 2011 -- Defense Minister Tonomi Inada said that the latest contingent had been training for its new mission since August.
“I expect them to contribute to the peace and stability of South Sudan while honoring the SDF [Japanese armed forces] traditions of peacekeeping operations,” she said.
The Japanese troops (mostly engineers working on infrastructure projects) will be stationed in Juba even though it was the scene of serious fighting between the president and the vice president last summer.
This location is important as the troops are not supposed to be deployed where there is fighting. As peacekeepers, they are not supposed to take sides.
Questioned in parliament, Abe described the situation in Juba as “extremely bad”, but -- on the other hand -- he said there is no “open conflict” that might impede their mission.
Under the new laws, Japanese troops cannot be assigned to areas where conflict is taking place. However, Abe and Inada argue that a cease-fire has been in place in Juba since the fighting last summer and seems to be holding.
Opposition lawmakers and others worry that under the new rules, Japan would be drawn into a distant conflict.
But Abe has told parliament he would not hesitate to withdraw troops if serious fighting were to break out again.
In 2012, Tokyo cut short its participation in a UN cease-fire monitoring mission in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights due to the deteriorating security conditions.
Japan's pacifistic constitution had been interpreted to prohibit “collective defense” or coming to the aid of allies and partners.
However, in July 2014 the cabinet “reinterpreted” the document to permit collective defense and passed laws in September 2015 putting it into effect.
In terms of the current peacekeeping rules, Japan's troops could not come to the aid of another foreign unit under attack or to even rescue Japanese civilians held hostage.
Under the previous interpretation, it would have to stand by.
Around three years ago, the issue came to the fore when South Korean troops asked the Japanese contingent to supply some ammunition.
Despite the restraints of the constitution, Abe initially approved the transfer -- saying it was consistent with his own interpretation of “Proactive pacifism” -- but the Koreans returned the bullets so as not to further embarrass the Japanese after their supplies arrived.
