WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The White House announced on Friday that President Donald Trump has canceled an Obama-era policy restricting the use of anti-personnel landmines, a move that invites criticism.
"The President has canceled the Obama Administration's policy to prohibit United States military forces from employing anti-personnel landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula," said the White House in a statement.
Noting that the 2014 Obama restrictions place American forces "at a severe disadvantage" in a conflict, the White House said the new move will enable the use of anti-personnel land mines elsewhere in the world in "exceptional circumstances."
The White House claimed that the new order will apply to authorize "advanced, non-persistent landmines specifically designed to reduce unintended harm to civilians and partner forces."
The new order has drawn some rebukes from activists. "The resumption of the use of anti-personnel landmines and continued stockpiling and production of these indiscriminate weapons is militarily unnecessary and dangerous," said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, in a statement.
