Japan should debate defending allies -US envoy

TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) Pacifist Japan needs to decide whether it could come to the defence of an ally, in view of the threat of missile attack in the region, Washington's ambassador to Tokyo said today.

Japan currently has no missile defence systems of its own but, shocked by North Korea's missile and nuclear tests, isscheduled to bring interceptors into operation over the next few years to supplement US missile defence.

But it is not clear whether Tokyo, whose military activities are strictly limited by its postwar constitution, would attempt to intercept missiles that might be headed for targets outside Japan.

''Would it have to wait until it could be finally determined that the missile was headed for Japan, or could it fire based upon the belief that any missile fired at or above Japanese airspace was a threat to Japan?'' Ambassador Thomas Schieffer said in a speech in Tokyo.

''Given the few minutes that are involved in missile defence decisions, it is better for us to answer that question now than in the future,'' he said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has talked about changing Japan's interpretation of the law to allow it to come to the defence of its allies in certain situations.

''The answer will be absolutely critical to the function and future of our alliance,'' Schieffer said.

Faced with rising regional tensions, Japan has been attempting to bolster its defence ties with the United States in the past few years, notably by sending non-combat troops to Iraq in the riskiest overseas mission for Japan's armed forces since World War Two.

The Japanese public initially opposed the dispatch but later accepted it after the Japanese forces managed to carry out humanitarian and reconstruction work without firing a shot or suffering casualties. The forces withdrew in July.

Japan's parliament on Friday began debate on two defence bills, one of which would make such international missions a core part of the duties of the country's armed forces, along with defence of the country and disaster relief.

Another bill under discussion would upgrade Japan's Defense Agency into a ministry. Defence officials say the move is largely symbolic, bringing Japan into line with other countries.

Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma sought to allay any fears that the move indicated a more aggressive attitude on Japan's part.

''There will be no change in our country's basic policy of being exclusively defensive, not becoming a military power and keeping the three non-nuclear principles,'' he said in parliament, referring to Japan's ban on nuclear weapons.

Japan's parliament also on Friday approved a law extending for another year a naval mission in the Indian Ocean that provides rear-guard support for US-led military operations in Afghanistan.

REUTERS PDM ND1508