Noda confirms Japan will send SDF engineering team to South Sudan
TOKYO —
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Sunday that Japan will send a 300-strong engineering team from the Ground Self-Defense Forces to South Sudan early next year as part of a U.N. mission to help the African nation build badly needed infrastructure such as roads, bridges and harbors.
Noda made the comments after attending the annual Self-Defense Forces Air Review at Hyakuri Air Base, in Ibaraki Prefecture.
A 30-member Japanese government fact-finding team has already been dispatched to South Sudan to assess conditions in the war-torn African country.
During his visit to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Noda met with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and signaled Japan’s support for reconstruction efforts in South Sudan.
South Sudan proclaimed independence from Sudan, Africa’s largest nation, on July 9, when it became the world’s newest country.
Noda said that sending the GSDF team was an important way for Japan to contribute to peacekeeping activities and earn the respect of the international community, NHK reported.
He also thanked the SDF for their relief work in the disaster-hit Tohoku region, saying their work has built goodwill in Japan toward their activities. At one point after the March 11 disaster, more than 100,000 SDF personnel were mobilized to the region.
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OssanAmerica
Can't wait for all the comments criticizing Japan for sending 300 engineering troops overseas when there's so much reconstruction work still needed in Japan after the tsunami. Of course, if Japan had refused the UN request, the same people would be criticizing Japan for not doing enough for other countries,
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Masato Tsuru
actually it's the people in the north and construction business that want to do the repairs and all the work. I remember some workers telling SDF troops "that's our job now". well there is money involve that's why.
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plasticmonkey
Masato is on the right track. The SDF sets up their flag to "earn the respect of the international community" and later turns over operations to Japanese construction companies, paid for unbeknownst by taxpayers of Japan. And Noda gets to keep his tight relationships with the bureaucracy. Same crap with JICA.
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PT24881
OssanAmerica "Can't wait for all the comments criticizing Japan for sending 300 engineering troops overseas when there's so much reconstruction work still needed in Japan after the tsunami..."
That is probably the same question came to anyone's mind, I presume Oil rich South Sudan vs the Tohoku ? The choice seemed legitimate.. Why Sending the SDF instead of general construction companies ? Coordinating with the US that is setting up military bases for Drones in Africa I presume.
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globalwatcher
OssanAmerica, I share the same view as yours.
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just-a-guy
You know, it was Maehara behind this plot, he has an interest to get a 'steal' of oil from South Sudan which many countries see is a new oil sources froma war torned country!
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davidattokyo
Forgive my ignorance but will South Sudan actually be needing any harbor infrastructure? They don't seem to have any sea border but they might have a big old river I guess...
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Spidapig24
davidattokyo
Davidattokyo,
There is in fact a port its called Juda and is located on the Nile
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Spidapig24
Davidattokyo,
Sorry thats Juba not Juda
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Jeffrey Duelley
If the SDF has around 150,000 members, why complain about a meager 300 being sent to a foreign nation? If it were the US or Europe they'd be doing something destructive instead of constructive, sending bombs and armored vehicles to slaughter civilians instead of helping build things.
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zichi
The SDF has about 240,000 members. Land, air and sea.
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sfjp330
Japan should be more agressive in sending 5,000 to 10,000 skilled personnels instead of 300 and large investments in South Sudan if they want stay ahead of China and have bigger influence and shares of the pie. Southern Sudan has the potential to be the third largest oil reserves holder in Africa after Nigeria and Angola and also holds vast untapped potentials, including uranium, Gold and diamond. U.S. is leading in assistance for development from the international donors. However, China has undertaken building of roads, highways, schools and hospitals in the new country. If Japan stays passive, they will be left behind and end up with leftovers.
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