Mission backed by 60% but 29% shun SDF: poll

More than 60 percent of the public supports Japan's antipiracy mission off Somalia, but 29 percent oppose the Self-Defense Force's involvement in such missions, according to the results of a government survey released Saturday.

Good hunting: Prime Minister Taro Aso (center) and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada (right) salute during the departure ceremony for two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers that departed for an antipiracy mission off Somalia on Saturday from Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. KYODO PHOTO

The survey of 3,000 adult men and women was conducted by the Cabinet Office from Jan. 15 to 25 and drew eligible responses from 59.4 percent of the group. It was held before the government decided to deploy the two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers.

The survey said that 63.2 percent think the SDF should fight piracy or prefer they be engaged in such operations. The number rose to 71.6 percent among men in their 20s.

But the survey also found that 29.1 percent oppose the SDF's involvement in antipiracy operations.

Of the respondents, 73.8 percent think the SDF should place priority on disaster rescue activities, followed by 60.1 percent who think its priority should be national security, and 44.3 percent who think it should be international peace cooperation activities.

The survey also indicated that 64.7 percent would be supportive of acquaintances who decide to join the SDF, which is 12.9 points higher than the previous survey in 2006.

Those who said they have a good impression of the SDF fell 4 points to 80.9 percent.

Those who think Japan might get into in a war came to 69.2 percent, the survey showed.

Asked what their greatest security concerns were, most respondents used the multiple-answer format to pick the situation on the Korean Peninsula, followed by international terrorist groups, the relationship between the United States and China, and the modernization of China's military.

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