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Japan sets up elite anti-terrorism unit
 Japan on Wednesday launched a new, elite military unit to counter terrorism and assist with the countrys growing defence role overseas. The 3,200-strong Combat Readiness Force was formed some two months after officially pacifist Japan created its first full-fledged defence ministry since World War II. The force will include specialists on biochemical weapons and a sub-unit, to be operational by March next year, that can be deployed to face terrorist attacks against Japanese cities. It will also train troops on peacekeeping missions and serve as an advance team for deployments overseas. Japan in January upgraded overseas operations to consider them a core mission of the armed forces. Deployments abroad had earlier been considered extraordinary, meaning that each one needed parliamentary approval. Prime Minister Shinzo Abes cabinet on Tuesday approved the first deployment since the change, sending a handful of defence personnel to help monitor the ceasefire ending Nepals civil war.Posted by: Fred 2007-03-29 |
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