Japan is to start preliminary work on a revision of its defense policy by setting up a advisory group in April, said a senior government spokesman Monday.  

The defense outline was originated in 1976 and revised in 1995, in which Japan aimed to send its solely self-defense-oriented troops to international arena. The third revision is expected to take place in the second half of this year.

The provisioned update of the defense outline should involve measures to deal with terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda at a press conference. The group will be led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, he said.

Citing terrorist and missile threats, Japan is speeding up the efforts to shore up the role of its Self-Defense Force (SDF) as well as the quick reaction ability. A set of bills endorsed last June strengthened the command authority of prime ministers over troops and enabled the SDF to have more maneuverability when carrying out defense missions.

The new amendments would build special military contingents to address terror, WMD and missile attacks, while cutting conventional heavy weapons such as tanks, artillery and aircraft, local newspapers said.

According to a plan, Japan is ready to start deploying from 2007 land- and ship-based missile defense systems introduced from the United States at the cost of billions of US dollars.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2004)