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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?np20020501a2.htm The Japan Times May 1, 2002 U.S. asks Japan to dispatch Aegis ship to Indian Ocean -The request could be related to U.S. plans to escalate its antiterrorism campaign, including a possible attack on Iraq, which President George W. Bush claims is part of an "axis of evil." -Opponents of the dispatch fear it could result in Japan's active engagement in war, which is prohibited under the pacifist Constitution. 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 Iraq, which President George W. Bush claims is part of an "axis of evil." Under the Antiterrorism 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. The coalition group, which arrived in Washington earlier in the day, also held separate talks with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and top White House economic adviser Lawrence Lindsey. Armitage called on Japan to fully investigate the incident in which an unidentified ship sank in December in the East China Sea after an exchange of fire with Japan Coast Guard vessels. Armitage told the coalition leaders that the mystery ship will be a mystery no more if it is raised, Yamasaki said. Japan is seeking to raise the ship, which it believes to be of North Korean origin, from waters in China's exclusive economic zone. The U.S. is apparently interested in finding out what the ship's purpose was and what types of weapons it was carrying. Armitage also said Japan should upgrade its Defense Agency to a ministry, according to Yamasaki, a former Defense Agency chief. The coalition leaders and Lindsey exchanged views on the economic situations in Japan and the U.S., as well as Japan's steps to fight deflation. On Tuesday, the three coalition leaders were scheduled to travel to New York and hold talks with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Yamasaki was to leave New York later Tuesday for a visit to Turkey. He will also visit Israel Jordan, and Saudi Arabia before returning to Japan on May 6. Fuyushiba and Nikai have canceled their original plan to visit the Middle East, due to party business. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
