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Japan to Dispatch Warships to Assist in War
Thursday, November 8, 2001
(6:21 AM ET)
The Associated Press

TOKYO -- ap
Japan's Cabinet voted Thursday to dispatch three warships to provide non-combat support in the U.S.-led war on terrorism, despite opposition to any Japanese attempt to expand its military role.

The two destroyers and a supply vessel will leave the southern port of Sasebo on Friday morning and head for the Indian Ocean to gather intelligence for the U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, said Tsutomu Himeno, deputy spokesman for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

The move comes after parliament last month passed laws allowing Japan's military to transport supplies and provide other non-combat support to the coalition fighting against the terrorist network suspected in the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.

Tokyo had also reportedly planned to dispatch a destroyer equipped with a high-tech Aegis combat radar system, but decided against it amid concern that deploying the ship would weaken the country's ability to defend itself.
(More: OrlandoSentinel.com News Source)
2001 © The Associated Press.

Dan