Japan Press Weekly

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2015 July 29 - August 4 [POLITICS]

DefMin admits war bills allow SDF to transport banned weapons for US troops

PM Abe’s war bills will allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to transport banned weapons like cluster bombs in response to any request from the U.S. forces, the defense minister on August 3 admitted at an Upper House committee meeting.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Inoue Satoshi at the meeting of the House Special Committee on war bills pointed out that the bills will enable transportation of weapons and munitions in combat zones.

Defense Minister Nakatani Gen confirmed that under the bills any weapons can be transported.

Inoue referred to the fact that the United States has possessed and used depleted uranium shells which are considered to be banned as inhumane weapons and cluster munitions most of which are banned under the international treaty. The JCP lawmaker asked, “Is it possible for the SDF to engage in transport of these weapons in response to requests from the U.S.?” Nakatani fell short of denying the possibility.

Inoue said, “Under the bills, the Japanese government can’t say ‘No’ to U.S. requests to transport these unlawed weapons and warn the U.S. not to use them. How can the bills contribute to world peace?”