The outline calls for greater flexibility and a bigger SDF role.

Japan has effectively given up its policy of keeping a basic defense capability at the ``minimum necessary'' level and instead wants to expand into ``multifunctional and flexible'' capabilities, according to a new defense program outline.

The draft National Defense Program Outline, which also calls for measures to counter terrorism, was presented to the ruling coalition parties Tuesday.

The outline cites, among its main pillars along with the nation's defense, cooperation with the United States and contribution to better international security through overseas activities of the Self-Defense Forces.

The government plans to decide on the new outline, which replaces the current outline of 1995, late this month or early next month. It will be followed by a compilation of a new five-year defense buildup program in mid-December.

As Japan's security goals, the draft outline cites defending the nation and improving international security circumstances to eliminate potential threats to Japan.

To realize these goals, the outline says, the nation should cooperate with the United States and the international community as well as rely on its own efforts.

The draft says Japan will pursue multifunctional, flexible, effective and efficient defense capabilities to prepare for a full-scale foreign invasion of Japan and respond to new threats such as terrorism and ballistic missiles.

Japan has so far held a policy of having a basic defense capability, defined as possessing the ``minimum necessary'' capability for an independent state, to defend itself from a limited, small-scale invasion.

The idea was that a defense buildup would have no limits if the nation tried to prepare for all kinds of threats. The new draft outline does not mention this ``basic'' capability.

It regards the peacekeeping missions and other overseas activities of the SDF as among its primary missions, rather than its auxiliary duties as now defined under the SDF Law.

Calling the Japan-U.S. security arrangements essential for maintaining the peace and security of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, the outline stresses the importance of cooperating with Washington in dealing with terrorism and other threats.

It stresses the importance of the SDF's reconstruction support in Iraq as an example.

The outline also calls for a review of the nation's three principles that effectively ban arms exports.

It cites the need to respond to the recent trend of joint international development and production of weapons, while stating that Japan should maintain its basic principles as a pacifist nation.(IHT/Asahi: November 17,2004)