JSDF Overseas Dispatches


These are overseas dispatches of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Japan sought active international cooperation beyond the framework of previous activities due to the alleviation of tensions after the end of the Cold War in 1989 and the Gulf War that broke out at the beginning of 1991. This began the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces in the Persian Gulf.

Law

This is the underlying law that triggered the formation. 2006 In accordance with the revised Self-Defense Forces Act, which was enacted on December 15, etc., overseas dispatching was upgraded from an incidental mission to an original mission.
Since 1991, the Japan Self-Defense Forces have conducted international activities to provide support for peacekeeping missions and disaster relief efforts as well as to help prevent conflict and terrorism.
DeploymentStart dateEnd dateJSDF numbersDescription
Persian GulfApril 26, 1991October 1991JMSDF 6 minesweeper vessels6 JMSDF minesweepers removed 34 sea mines in the Persian Gulf to improve the safety of ships.
CambodiaAugust 19, 1992September, 1993JGSDF 1200JGSDF truce observers and an engineer unit helped repair damaged bridges and roads in Cambodia. The JASDF transported water and fuel to other peacekeeping units.
MozambiqueMay 1993January 1995JSDF unitThis was the SDF's second peacekeeping operations. Headquarters staff and a transportation unit were sent to participate in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique.
RwandaSeptember 1994December 1994JSDF unit and liaison/coordination personnelThis was the first humanitarian relief activity of the JSDF. An JSDF unit and liaison/coordination personnel were dispatched to Zaire and Kenya for relief operations to Rwandan refugees from the civil war.
Israel Syria Golan HeightsFebruary 1996PresentJSDF unit and liaison/coordination personnelJSDF sent staff and a transport unit to the UN Disengagement Observer Force to promote peace in the Golan Heights. Activities include transporting supplies, road repair and snow removal.
HondurasNovember 1998December 1998JSDF unit and liaison/coordination personnelAfter a devastating hurricane, JGSDF units and medical officers provided disaster relief with medical care to prevent epidemics and the JASDF transported equipment from Japan and the United States to Honduras.
TurkeySeptember 1999November 1999JMSDF Three vesselsAfter a major earthquake, the JSDF dispatched three vessels, including a transport ship, minesweeper tender and a replenishment ship. It included 500 temporary houses as emergency relief supply for earthquake victims.
Timor-LesteSeptember 1999February 2000JASDF Cargo planeA large inflow of refugees into West Timor were caused by political unrest in East Timor. At the request of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees the JASDF dispatched a large cargo plane to transport relief supplies from Surabaya, Indonesia to Kuban.
IndiaFebruary 2001February 2001JGSDF unit and JASDF squadronA JGSDF relief supply unit and JASDF emergency relief air transport squadron transported blankets and tents to areas in Western India that were damaged in a major earthquake. They also instructed local staff on how to use it.
AfghanistanOctober 2001October 2001JASDF squadronThe JSDF provided tents, blankets, water supply containers and mats to refugees in Islamabad, Afghanistan as part of anti-terrorism activities. These were transported by an JASDF squadron by air.
Indian OceanNovember 2001November 2007JMSDF vesselsJMSDF vessels were dispatched to the Indian Ocean under the former Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law enacted after the terrorism attacks in the United States. The JMSDF vessels provided assistance by supplying fuel and water to foreign naval ships engaged in anti-terrorism activities. The JASDF transported supplies to the United States military forces.
Haiti20102010JGSDF contingent of troopsThe JSDF assisted the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti with a contingent of troops. They conducted peacekeeping, reconstructed roads, buildings and removed rubble.
East TimorFebruary 2002June 2004JGSDF 680The JSDF dispatched personnel and an engineer unit of 680 men and women to the headquarters of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. They helped repair and maintain roads, bridges and water supply units for local residents.
IraqJuly 2003August 2003JASDF cargo planeThe JASDF provided assistance to victims of the War in Iraq by transporting 140 tons of relief supplies between Italy and Jordan with a large cargo plane. This was a request of the World Food Programme.
IranDecember 2003January 2004JASDF 2 cargo planesAfter a major earthquake struck Southeast Iran, the JASDF used two large cargo planes to transport 12 tons of emergency relief supplies provided by JICA to Kerman Province.
IraqJanuary 4, 20042006JGSDF 9,600Deployment of 9,600 Ground JSDF personnel to Iraq. The focus was on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.
IraqDecember 2003February 2009JGSDF and JASDFIn order to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance and help ensure the stability of Iraq, the JGSDF provided water, medical assistance, school, road repairs and general construction. The JASDF transported supplies between Kuwait and Iraq and played a vital role in the international reconstruction effort.
ThailandDecember 2004January 2005JMSDF unitAn JMSDF unit helped search for victims after a tsunami struck Thailand following the Sumatra earthquake. The JMSDF transported international emergency aid teams and equipment by air and recovered victims’ bodies from the ocean.
IndonesiaJanuary 2005March 2005JGSDF, JMSDF and JASDFUnits from the JGSDF, JMSDF and JASDF were dispatched to Sumatra after a major earthquake and tsunami. This marked the first time that JSDF helicopters were dispatched for international disaster relief activities.
Kamchatka PeninsulaAugust 2005August 20054 JMSDF vesselsFour JMSDF vessels, including a submarine rescue ship, were dispatched to rescue the crew of a Russian Navy submarine that could not reach the surface near the Kamchatka peninsula. The submarine's crew was rescued by a Royal Navy submarine rescue ship. The Russian government also lauded the rapid response of the JMSDF.
PakistanOctober 2005December 2005JASDF cargo plane, 6 JGSDF helicoptersThe JASDF used a large cargo plane to transport six JGSDF helicopters to a major earthquake zone in Pakistan. The helicopters transported 824 victims and 131 tons of relief supplies, including medicines and tents.
IndonesiaJune 2006June 2006Squadron and other personnelWhen Yogyakarta was struck by a major earthquake off the coast of Java, the JSDF sent an international emergency medical aid air transport squadron with personnel such as JGSDF medical officers. They provided local medical assistance, medical exams and vaccinations to 5,400 people.
NepalMarch 2007January 2011JGSDF personnelJSDF personnel were dispatched to the United Nations Mission in Nepal as military observers in order to maintain stability in the region after a peace accord that ended armed conflict between the Nepalese Army and Maoist forces. JSDF personnel observed the management of weapons, soldiers in camps and barracks.
Indian OceanJanuary 2008January 2010JMSDFThe JMSDF mission included supplying water and helicopter and ship fuel to foreign naval ships engaged in anti-terrorism activities in the Indian Ocean. This was permitted after the passing of the Replenishment Support Special Measures Law.
SomaliaMarch 2009PresentJGSDF unit and JASDF unitA JSDF surface and air unit were dispatched to the Gulf of Aden to ensure the safe passage of private-sector vessels. Numerous piracy incidents occurred there. It included a P-3C patrol plane used for warning and surveillance activities and two destroyers to protect civilian commercial ships. JGSDF personnel also provided security for the air unit's facility in Djibouti.
IndonesiaOctober 2009October 2009JSDF unitAfter a major earthquake that off Padang Indonesia that caused more than 1,000 deaths, the JSDF sent a medical assistance unit to the area. The three medical officers and other personnel provided emergency medical care to 919 patients.
HaitiJanuary 2010February 2010JGSDF unitAfter a major earthquake struck Haiti that killed more than 300,000 people, an JASDF transport plane was dispatched to help transport aid personnel and victims of the disaster. A medical assistance unit from the JGSDF provided disaster relief such as local medical care to 2954 people.
HaitiFebruary 2010PresentJGSDF engineer unitThe JSDF dispatched a JGSDF engineer unit for post-quake reconstruction efforts in Haiti. They brought heavy machinery and other equipment to clear rubble, repair roads, perform simple engineering and construction work.
PakistanAugust 2010October 2010JSDF unitPakistan suffered major flood damage caused by torrential rains. At the request of local Pakistani governments, a joint JSDF rescue unit was dispatched. It consisted of personnel from the JGSDF, JMSDF and JASDF. An JMSDF transport ship, JASDF C130H transport plane and six JGSDF helicopters helped transport 260 tons of relief supplies and 49 aid officials.
Timor-LesteSeptember 2010PresentJSDF personnelAt the request of the UN, two JSDF personnel were dispatched as military liaison officers for the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor. The JSDF personnel collected information to monitor civic order throughout East Timor to ensure that ceasefire was adhered.
New ZealandFebruary 2011March 2011JSDF unitFollowing a major earthquake near Christchurch, the New Zealand government requested help from Japan. The JSDF organized an international disaster relief air transport unit with a rescue team consisting of personnel from the National Police Agency, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and the Japan Coast Guard. It was one of the first to arrive in the country.
South Sudan12 December 201617 April 2017JGSDF 12Ceasefire observers and security 12 personnel participated in peacekeeping operations on the ground in Sudan over the course of two years and 11 months.