The Japanese government on Tuesday adopted a foreign aid charter that approves use of Japan's official development assistance to support foreign military forces in noncombat operations such as disaster relief, infrastructure building and coast guard activities, Kyodo reported.
In the first revision since 2003, the charter effectively lifted the ban on assisting foreign military forces with such funds, a move that critics say may spark concern that the aid could be diverted for military purposes, though the government maintains its policy of not extending aid to foreign militaries by strictly observing the charter designed to avoid the use of aid to abet international conflicts.
"If the military or military officers of recipient countries are involved in development cooperation for the purpose of (improvement of) the people's livelihood and nonmilitary activities such as disaster relief, (Japan) will consider individual programs case by case, while taking into account the significance of extending such aid," the revised charter said.