At the House of Councilors plenary session on the 13th, the revised Self-Defense Forces Law, which allows foreigners to be rescued on board a Self-Defense Forces aircraft in the event of an emergency overseas, was passed by a majority.
Last August, when the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated, the government dispatched a Self-Defense Forces aircraft to evacuate one Japanese and 14 Afghanistan out of the country, but the Self-Defense Forces Law at that time included only foreigners. It was not specified that it would be done.
At that time, the Liberal Democratic Party and others criticized that the dispatch of SDF aircraft was too late, so the government submitted an amendment, and at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 13th, it was approved by the majority of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party. It was established.
The revised Self-Defense Forces Law stipulates that in the event of an emergency such as terrorism or conflict overseas, even foreigners working at the Japanese embassy can be rescued on board the Self-Defense Forces aircraft.
In addition, the conditions for dispatching SDF aircraft have been changed from "when it can be safely implemented" to "when it is possible to take measures to avoid expected dangers."
Furthermore, the provision to use government aircraft in principle has been abolished so that SDF aircraft can be dispatched promptly.