Japan to send destroyer on one-year Middle East deployment

Catogory : Market Report

JAPAN has approved a plan to send its own forces to the Middle East, marking the first time naval assets have been deployed overseas under a wider ambit given to the Japan Self-Defense Forces under a 2015 constitutional law revision. Japan will send a warship and patrol planes to protect Japanese ships in the region as the situation remains volatile, Japan’s top government spokesman was quoted as saying.

Japan in October said it would send its own forces after earlier declining to join a US-led joint protection force. No details were however disclosed at that time. The Cabinet approved a plan to send a helicopter-equipped destroyer and two P-3C patrol planes would also be dispatched for information-gathering aimed at ensuring safe passage for Japanese vessels through the region. Some 90% of Japan’s crude oil imports come from the Middle East.

In the event of any emergency, a special order would be issued by the Japanese defence minister to allow the forces to use weapons to protect ships in danger. JSDF are bound by strict constitutional rules on the extent of their deployment overseas.

“Peace and stability in the Middle East is extremely important for the peace and prosperity of the international community including Japan,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, adding that it was important to maintain safe navigation for Japan-related ships in the region.