Japan should seek ways to join U.N. PKO operations more actively
(From The Japan Times Nov. 20 issue)

要約
5原則緩和によるPKOへの積極的参加

To rectify Japan's impractical limits on joining U.N. peacekeeping operations (PKO), Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has called for a review of Japan's five-point principle on PKO participation.

The principle, incorporated in the 1992 PKO law, states that PKO participation should be contingent on: (1) existence of a cease-fire agreement between parties to a conflict, (2) agreement by the parties concerned, including the country where a PKO is carried out, on Japan's participation, (3) the strictly neutral stance of the PKO being carried out, (4) immediate withdrawal if any of these conditions is not met, and (5) the rule that weapons will be used only in self-defense.

As of the end of September, only 39 Japanese people were engaged in PKOs, compared with South Korea's 400 and China's 2,147, though Japan's financial contribution to the U.N. PKO budget is the second largest (19.6 percent) after the United States (25.9 percent). Mr. Okada said the government will study whether the law that includes the principle is hindering Japan's PKO participation or whether it is a case of the Self-Defense Forces and the police being reluctant to participate.

Recently, the nature of conflicts and the roles of PKOs have changed. In some conflicts, it is unclear who the directly concerned parties are. Some PKOs are organized to stabilize social and political situations unrelated to military conflict. These situations were not foreseen when the PKO law was enacted.

Japan has relaxed the rule on the use of weapons to enable defense of not only Japanese PKO members but also U.N. workers and PKO members from other countries in the same location as Japanese members. The SDF can take part in activities such as supervising a ceasefire, disarming parties to a conflict, going on patrol and collecting abandoned weapons.

The government should seek ways to expand Japan's PKO participation consistent with the spirit of the war-renouncing constitution, and the Democratic Party of Japan's principle of Japan having autonomous judgment and democratic control. It also should focus on PKOs in which Japan's ability can be best utilized.

国連平和維持活動への貢献を拡大するため、岡田外相はPKO参加5原則を見直すと表明した。 PKOに要員派遣する5原則は、1）紛争当事者の停戦合意、2）受け入れ国を含む当事者が日本の参加に同意、3）中立的立場の厳守、4）以上が満たされなくなった場合の即時撤退、5）武器使用は要員の生命の防護のため必要最低限で、国際平和協力法に盛り込まれている。 国連PKO予算の分担で日本は米国に次ぎ2位だが、要員派遣数は韓国や中国より少ない。 紛争当事者が分かりにくい例や、政治･社会的混乱の安定化を図るPKOもある。日本は武器使用の防護対象を拡大し、自衛隊は停戦監視や武装解除、巡回、放棄武器の収集もできる。政府は平和憲法や主体的判断、民主的統制の精神に則り、日本の力が活きるPKO活動に焦点を合わせるべきだ。