The Japanese government is pushing to allow its self-defense forces involved in UN peacekeeping operations overseas to use armed force off base to protect international organizations.

Japan’s Sankei Shimbun reported that the Japanese government will revise a related law to allow Japanese peacekeeping troops to use armed force off base in the defense of international agencies under attack by terrorists.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference that Tokyo is deliberating the creation of guidelines that will help Japanese commanders stationed overseas in making appropriate judgments on when to use weapons.

Fujimura added that the Japanese government is also considering submitting a revision to a law on Japan’s participation in peacekeeping operations to parliament.

The revision is expected to stir controversy, since the Japanese government believes that the use of armed force should be acceptable for self-defense forces in emergencies, although the Japanese Constitution bans the use of it.