Japan Makes Guidelines for SDF Operations to Protect Foreign Warships

The Japanese government embraced guidelines on Thursday for new Self-Defense Forces operations that include using weapons to secure U.S. and other foreign warships in peacetime and so-called gray-zone security circumstances that do not amount to armed attacks.

Such operations are based on Japan’s latest security laws, imposed in March, that enable the country to work out the right to collective self-defense, or concerning the help of an ally under attack, and expand the scope of abroad SDF activities.

The new operations will enhance “the deterrent power and coping” capability of the Japan-U.S. alliance and better guarantee the peace and security of Japan, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada stated.

The federal government’s National Security Council adopted the guidelines. The move followed the government last month designated new responsibilities under the security laws to SDF soldiers on a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, consisting of rescuing aid employees and more.

The guidelines enable the minimum necessary use of weapons to protect warships of the United States and other nations with close security ties with Japan.