Self-Defense Force troops on tsunami relief missions may be spearheading a major expansion in the scope of their responsibilities.

With the worldwide focus on the Indian Ocean disaster, government officials are thinking to submit to the Diet a proposal that would put overseas SDF operations on par with homeland defense.

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had approved in December a new National Defense Program Outline that proposed upgrading overseas activities as a primary duty of the SDF.

Officials at one time had shelved a similar proposal as part of a bill intended for the ordinary Diet session that will convene Jan. 21.

However, Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Ono said Friday: ``The activities of the SDF, including assistance for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and emergency relief support for the Sumatra earthquake, have been praised internationally. I have given instructions to make the utmost efforts to have the bill submitted.''

The dispatch will include about 1,000 troops, the largest SDF emergency relief contingent ever sent abroad.

Government officials at one time hesitated to put forth such a bill. Even if it were approved, other bills would be needed to define exactly what the SDF could do overseas and under what conditions.

Now with the dispatch of troops for tsunami relief, opinion among top officials seems to have swung behind Ono's proposal to revise the SDF Law.

Government sources said that with public support for SDF relief efforts, the time was right to push the bill. As one government source said, ``No one will oppose efforts to support the tsunami victims.''

That's a sharp turnaround from widespread objections to the initial dispatch of SDF troops to Iraq for reconstruction. Public polls also showed opposition to December's decision to extend the SDF presence in Iraq by a year.

The operations in Southeast Asia present an ideal opportunity to show the SDF is capable of shouldering a new primary duty, an official said.

With the declining likelihood of a full-scale invasion of Japan by an enemy power, overseas activities for the SDF are thought to demonstrate the forces' continued usefulness.

Such activities will also make it easier for Defense Agency officials to ask for greater transport capability in terms of both capacity and distance.

The decision to send a large SDF contingent to Southeast Asia was also made in consideration of American interests.

One high-ranking Defense Agency official said, ``The United States is watching to see what kind of role Japan can play by its response to the natural disaster.''

SDF members will coordinate activities with the U.S. military at the base in Utapao, Thailand, where the United States has set up a command post. The ASDF's C-130 transport planes will fly supplies to Indonesia from Utapao.

Air and some Maritime SDF units have already been sent. The full contingency, including Ground SDF troops, is expected to be in place by the end of this month.(IHT/Asahi: January 10,2005)