April 15 (UPI) — Japanese lawmakers have ratified agreements to provide U.S., British and Australian forces with ammunition in combat zones.
Japan’s upper house of parliament passed the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreements this week, Kyodo news agency reported Friday.
The ACSA is an accord that allows for an exchange of not only ammunition but also goods and transportation services across bilateral alliances or partnerships with the three other countries.
The new agreement amends existing Japanese deals with the United States and Australia and covers the recently signed ASCA with Britain.
Previous conventions held that Japan was only allowed to provide supplies to the other militaries in non-combat zones.
Not only is Japan now able to provide supplies to U.S., British or Australian troops in war zones, Tokyo can also provide ammunition support even when the country is not directly under attack, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
Other recent changes include U.S. and Australian military support for Japan.
An amendment to Japan’s security law that took effect in March 2016 allows the United States or Australia to provide ammunition to Japan even when the country is not under attack but is facing a “critical event” or an impending threat.
The ratification is taking place less than a year after Tokyo and Washington signed an update to their ASCA that would allow Japan’s self-defense forces to provide ammunition and military refueling for U.S. forces around the world.
The 2016 amendment authorized Japan’s military to provide U.S. troops with food, fuel and ammunition, and extended the SDF’s reach beyond the scope of regional security.
Prior to the amendment, Japan was only allowed to provide food, water and fuel to U.S. military personnel on humanitarian or United Nations peacekeeping missions.
