Japanese Peacekeepers Can Defend UN Staff Under Attack

The Japanese Self Defense Forces can now go offensive when under attack as per the new legislation.

“The defense forces can use force to defend allies under armed attack and expands the scope of its use of arms in U.N. peacekeeping operations under the security legislation enacted last week,” Japan Times news daily reported Wednesday.

The controversial legislation, enacted Saturday despite strong protests from opposition lawmakers and voters, allows the SDF to use force to defend allies under armed attack and expands the scope of its use of arms in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

According to the officials, the government plans to decide on new rules of engagement for the SDF by the end of this year to specify circumstances in which use of weapons is permitted.

SDF personnel operating in U.N.-led peacekeeping missions are currently forbidden from rescuing peacekeepers from other countries or civilian U.N. personnel who come under attack in areas other than those in which the SDF members are deployed.