An antiterrorism bill allowing the Self-Defense Forces to lend an unprecedented level of support to U.S.-led forces overseas cleared the Diet on Monday.
The government-sponsored bill that enables service members to provide noncombat and humanitarian support to U.S. and multinational forces was approved in the House of Councilors on the majority strength of the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and New Conservative Party.
The Democratic Party of Japan opposed the bill because it does not force the government to seek Diet approval before the SDF is dispatched.