Japan Minister on plan to send troops to MidEast

Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono said on Friday that he will dispatch the country's Self-Defense Forces to the Middle East.

Japan's cabinet approved the dispatch of a Maritime Self-Defense Force for information-gathering purposes.

Kono said only one ship will be dispatched and the move must be "coordinated with future diplomatic efforts."

Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga held a news conference earlier to discuss the importance of ensuring safe navigation of Japanese vessels in the Middle East, the world's energy source.

The announcement follows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Japan last week.

During Rouhani's visit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged Iran to fully comply with the nuclear agreement with world powers. Abe expressed concern about rising tensions in the Middle East and pledged to do as much as possible to help restore regional stability.

Japan's troop dispatch won't be part of a US-led coalition protecting Middle East waterways, an apparent attempt to maintain neutrality in a show of consideration to Iran.

Sending warships to areas of military tension is a highly sensitive issue in Japan because its pacifist post-World War II constitution strictly limits the use of force by the military. Abe, however, has gradually expanded Japan's military role in recent years.

In June, a Japanese-operated tanker was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. Washington said Iran was responsible and urged Japan to join the US-led military initiative.

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