Japan's Self-Defence Force (SDF) is set to participate in the 'Cobra Gold 2005' exercise to be held in Thailand between 2 and 13 May: the first time its ground forces have joined a multilateral training event. The breakthrough initiative reinforces trends enunciated in Tokyo's new defence policy paper, released on 10 December 2004. These include greater emphasis on the SDF's international role, which was underscored by its involvement on an unprecedented scale in post-26 December tsunami relief operations.
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