Japanese troops' departure for Iraq signals shift in defense policy

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A contingent of Japan's Self-Defense Forces left for Iraq in late 2003, indicating Japan's intention to become a political and military power and presages a shift in its defense strategy, a Chinese newspaper said Thursday.

�@�@The deployment of Japanese troops in a foreign country is against the country's pacifist constitution and also its public opinion, China's major newspaper People's Daily said in a signed article.

The deployment is unconstitutional because Japan's constitution renounces the right to go to war and prohibits the nation from having military forces except for self-defense, the article noted.

It said the Japanese parliament enacted a law in July, allowing troops to be sent to Iraq but limiting them to "non-combat" zones. However, there is no such "non-combat" zone in Iraq because US President George W. Bush has declared Iraq a major anti-terrorism battlefield.
More: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-01/01/content_1256854.htm