Tokyo

The Japanese government decided on Tuesday to extend the stay of two Ground Self-Defense Force members at the Multinational Force & Observers in the Sinai Peninsula, which oversees a ceasefire in the Egypt-Israel border zone, for a year.

The plan to keep the GSDF officers stationed at the MFO command in Egypt until Nov. 30 next year was approved at a cabinet meeting.

The officers were dispatched in April as the first case of so-called international peace and security cooperation activity under the 2015 national security legislation.

The cabinet also approved a plan to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's antipiracy operations in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia for a year.

"I want to ensure the safety of Japan-related ships and protect the sea lane, which is important for the global economy," Defense Minister Taro Kono told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

JIJI Press