{
  "id": "RS21816",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RS21816",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 104648,
      "date": "2004-04-30",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T20:16:15.593948",
      "title": "Japan's Self-Defense Forces in Iraq: Motivations, Constraints, and Implications for U.S.-Japan Alliance Cooperation",
      "summary": "The capture and subsequent release of five Japanese civilians in two different hostage-taking\nsituations by Islamic terrorist groups in Iraq in April 2004 underscored the high stakes for both the\nJapanese government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and for the U.S.-led coalition. Except\nfor the small Communist and Socialist parties, Japanese political leaders across the board supported\nKoizumi's adamant stance against responding to the hostage-takers' demands that Japan withdraw\nits contingent of some 550 troops that were deployed to Samawah, in southern Iraq, in early 2004. \nWhile this show of resolve by Japan has been welcomed by the Bush Administration, the longer-term\neffect of the hostage-taking and the upsurge in anti-coalition violence may reinforce the views of\nmany in Japan, including the main opposition party, that agreeing to send Japanese troops to Iraq was\na mistake. A number of Japanese commentators and political leaders have suggested that the\ngovernment's main motive for sending troops was to strengthen U.S.-Japan alliance cooperation in\nthe face of perceived security threats from North Korea and a rising China, not because of strong\nagreement with U.S. policy in Iraq. From this perspective, Tokyo's steadfastness could have a\npositive influence on other coalition governments who may now be reconsidering their\ncommitments, while the withdrawal of Japanese forces, as many in Japan are demanding, could\ncause significant complications for the U.S. effort in Iraq and adversely affect broader U.S.-Japan\nalliance relations. This report will be updated as news events warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
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  "topics": []
}