The Japanese Government yesterday passed a set of Self-Defence Forces (SDF) law revision bills aimed at the quicker interception of missiles targeting Japan.

The bill stopped short of giving complete authority to the armed forces in interception operations, but considerably empowered the defence-only troops.

The bills also propose appointing a chief of staff who can wield command over all the ground, air and maritime forces of the SDF. Under current law, the three forces fall under the control of their respective commanders.

In terms of dealing with missile attacks, the bill envisioned two scenarios.

The first is when Japan believes it is at risk of a ballistic missile strike. In that case, the Defence Agency director general would issue an interception order after getting permission to do so from the prime minister and the cabinet.

Under the second circumstance, when a missile is actually on the way, the Defence Agency director-general is authorized to give orders at his own discretion following emergency guidelines approved by the premier in advance.

In fear the forces could abuse their rights in the latter scenario, the bill stipulates that the validity of an order is limited to a specified period of time.

Civilian control is a basic defence policy for Japan which saw a rampant military in the first half of the 20th century and one that wreaked havoc in Asia during World War II.

The Defence Agency initially compiled draft guidelines for revision of the law only on the basis of the second scenario, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

But the agency was later pressured by the cabinet to redraft the bill to put in the first measure.

Japan became jittery after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a rocket test in 1998. Tokyo regarded the rocket which flew over Japan as a ballistic missile.

Saying that a missile from the DPRK could hit Japanese territory in about 10 minutes, SDF officials have since been piling on the pressure for a swifter reaction mechanism.

The latest version of the bill also asked the prime minister to report to parliament immediately after the interception operation.

Japan's pacifist constitution denies the right to use force, but the government says it is necessary to maintain a minimum self-defence power.

The SDF is now leaning towards a more aggressive function.

The defence programme outline updated in December stressed the SDF's role internationally. And a series of constitutions passed in recent years gave them some pre-emptive striking power in certain situations.

Japan aims to start deploying PAC-3 and SM-3 ballistic missile defence systems from 2007, which it is working on with the United States. The bills will be submitted to the current parliament for final approval.

(China Daily February 16, 2005)