U.S. asks Japan to dispatch Aegis ship to Indian Ocean
Wednsday May 1.2002.
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The United States asked Japan on Monday to dispatch a destroyer with the Aegis air defense system and P-3C antisubmarine surveillance aircraft as part of its support for the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan, a top Japanese ruling party official said.
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz made the request in talks with the secretaries general of the three ruling parties -- Taku Yamasaki of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tetsuzo Fuyushiba of New Komeito and Toshihiro Nikai of the New Conservative Party, Yamasaki said at a news conference after the meeting.
Wolfowitz called on Japan to extend the May 19 deadline for its logistic support for the U.S. campaign because there are still many operations to be carried out, and hoped for the dispatch of an Aegis-equipped vessel and P-3C aircraft, both of which have high intelligence-gathering capabilities, Yamasaki said.
Wolfowitz did not refer to specific areas where the destroyer and aircraft might be used, or their missions, he said.
The request could be related to U.S. plans to escalate its antiterrorism campaign, including a possible attack on Ira, which President George W. Bush claims is part of an "axis of evil."
Under theAntiterrorism Special Measures Law enacted Oct. 29, the Self-Defense Forces have sent several naval vessels to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and British warships. The duration of the SDF dispatch was set from Nov. 20 to May 19.
The ruling bloc leaders told Wolfowitz that the three parties will closely consult with one another on the proposed extension of the deadline but avoided giving an immediate answer to the request for the dispatch, Yamasaki said.
At the news conference, however, the three coalition leaders were negative on the destroyer and P-3C dispatch.
"An immediate dispatch would be difficult under the current conditions. It is necessary to consider the missions and take into account the feelings of the Japanese people," Yamasaki said.
Fuyushiba said, "There is no need for the dispatch."
Nikai said this is not an issue for immediate discussions by the three parties.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said at a news conference that the government was aware of the request. He added that the government will hear more about the request from the Yamasaki mission.
When the U.S. began its military campaign against targets in Afghanistan last October after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, Japan considered dispatching an Aegis destroyer to the Indian Ocean.
It decided against such a move, however, because there were objections within the ruling coalition, and the U.S. bombing of targets in Afghanistan eased after the collapse of the Taliban regime.
Opponents of the dispatch fear it could result in Japan's active engagement in war, which is prohibited under the pacifist Constitution.
Wednesday, May 1, 2002
www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?np20020501a2.htm
Wednsday May 1.2002.
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The United States asked Japan on Monday to dispatch a destroyer with the Aegis air defense system and P-3C antisubmarine surveillance aircraft as part of its support for the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan, a top Japanese ruling party official said.
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz made the request in talks with the secretaries general of the three ruling parties -- Taku Yamasaki of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tetsuzo Fuyushiba of New Komeito and Toshihiro Nikai of the New Conservative Party, Yamasaki said at a news conference after the meeting.
Wolfowitz called on Japan to extend the May 19 deadline for its logistic support for the U.S. campaign because there are still many operations to be carried out, and hoped for the dispatch of an Aegis-equipped vessel and P-3C aircraft, both of which have high intelligence-gathering capabilities, Yamasaki said.
Wolfowitz did not refer to specific areas where the destroyer and aircraft might be used, or their missions, he said.
The request could be related to U.S. plans to escalate its antiterrorism campaign, including a possible attack on Ira, which President George W. Bush claims is part of an "axis of evil."
Under theAntiterrorism Special Measures Law enacted Oct. 29, the Self-Defense Forces have sent several naval vessels to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and British warships. The duration of the SDF dispatch was set from Nov. 20 to May 19.
The ruling bloc leaders told Wolfowitz that the three parties will closely consult with one another on the proposed extension of the deadline but avoided giving an immediate answer to the request for the dispatch, Yamasaki said.
At the news conference, however, the three coalition leaders were negative on the destroyer and P-3C dispatch.
"An immediate dispatch would be difficult under the current conditions. It is necessary to consider the missions and take into account the feelings of the Japanese people," Yamasaki said.
Fuyushiba said, "There is no need for the dispatch."
Nikai said this is not an issue for immediate discussions by the three parties.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said at a news conference that the government was aware of the request. He added that the government will hear more about the request from the Yamasaki mission.
When the U.S. began its military campaign against targets in Afghanistan last October after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, Japan considered dispatching an Aegis destroyer to the Indian Ocean.
It decided against such a move, however, because there were objections within the ruling coalition, and the U.S. bombing of targets in Afghanistan eased after the collapse of the Taliban regime.
Opponents of the dispatch fear it could result in Japan's active engagement in war, which is prohibited under the pacifist Constitution.
Wednesday, May 1, 2002
www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?np20020501a2.htm
