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Japanese advance ground troops enter Iraq

PLA Daily 2004-01-20

TOKYO, Jan. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- An advance team of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) crossed the border into Iraq from Kuwait on Monday to prepare for aid activities in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, Kyodo News reported.

A special law enacted last July paved the way for the deployment of Japan's Self-Defense Forces to help rebuild Iraq.

In Samawah, the team will prepare for the full deployment of some 550 Japanese ground troops who will provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. The advance team will check the local security situation and arrange to rent land for a camp.

Based on its report on local security conditions, Japanese Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba will decide to order the full GSDF deployment after gaining approval from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The government on the same day submitted a proposal seeking parliament approval for the dispatch of the advance team and of the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) for missions in Iraq.

The developments came despite the results of a weekend telephone poll by Kyodo that showed the majority of Japanese are still against sending the SDF to Iraq.

Japan plans to have the GSDF provide drinking water, medical aid and help in repairing schools and other public facilities in Samawah and the vicinity. The deployment of main GSDF contingents would start as early as later this month.