Areas to be covered by SDF under SDF dispatch law is vague: JCP Dietmember

The area to be covered by the "basic plan" and "manuals" in accordance
with the law to send the Self-Defense Forces abroad to take part in the U.S.
retaliatory war (SDF dispatch law) is quite vague, a Japanese Communist
Party Dietmember said.

Koizumi Chikashi (JCP) was speaking at a meeting of the House of
Councilors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on November 20.

Referring to the developments in Afghanistan in which the Taliban regime
collapsed, Koizumi said that Japan lost all reasons to send its forces to
take part in the U.S.-led retaliatory war.

Taking up the government's "basic plan" which allows SDF ships to carry
out supply and transport operations for the U.S. Forces in 'the Indian
Ocean,' he asked the government to define the coverage of the ocean.

Defense Agency Director General Nakatani Gen in reply said that it covers
the sea ranging from the western coasts of the Malay Peninsula and Australia
in the East to the eastern coast of the African Continent in the west,
suggesting that it covers extremely broad areas.

In reply to questions by JCP Koizumi on "manuals" and "sphere of
operational areas" to be covered by JMSDF ships, Nakatani said that
"operational areas" cannot be made public. The types, except their names, of
MSDF ships will be released, he added.

JCP Koizumi stated, "While advocating that the SDF will not be sent to
'combat areas,' the government rejects to make public SDF ships' operational
area until asked to answer. The 'basic plan' is very vague. It is very
serious that the government is accelerating its moves to dispatch SDF units
without letting the people know anything about its 'manuals'." (end)