The government plans to expand its participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations and other U.N.-related activities to promote its bid for a permanent seat on the world body's Security Council, according to government officials.
The move, aimed at gaining support from more member states of the United Nations, comes as Japan begins its two-year term as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council on Saturday.
The first peacekeeping opportunity will probably be in Sudan, where the government and rebels have been involved in a 20-year-old civil war. Both sides have agreed to aim for a peace agreement before Saturday.
If a peace pact is reached, the United Nations is expected to start making arrangements as early as January to send peacekeepers to Sudan. All 15 members of the U.N. Security Council can take part in the arrangement process.
The Defense Agency and other government circles may be cautious about sending Self-Defense Forces units to Sudan as there are elements of instability, including continued fighting.