Three Japanese naval vessels left three Maritime Self-Defense Force bases in Yokosuka, Kure and Sasebo for the Indian Ocean on Nov. 25 to supports the US-led anti-terrorism war.
The dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Force troops to a battlefield marks the first time since Japan's defeat at World War II. Even though the dispatch was undertaken in compliance with the 'law of special measures against terrorism' that had been recently enacted to support the US, neighboring East-Asian countries expressed their concerns about a possibility for Japan to become a great military power.
The minesweeper'Uraga' (5,650t) departed form Yokosuka base carrying 200 tons of relief supplies for refugees to Karachi, Pakistan, while the supply ship 'Towada' (8,100t) and the escort warship 'Sawakiri' (3,550t) left the Kure and the Sasebo naval bases respectively on that day.
Civil organizations protested on the sea against the deployment of the Self-Defense Force at the three bases where send-off ceremonies were conducted, mobilizing small fishing-boats but there was no clash.
The number of the dispatched Self-Defense Force troops amounted to over 1,200, and will reach over 1,500 when the personnel of six transport planes of the Self-Defense Aviation Force scheduled to begin operations from the next month. The deadline for their operations is the end of next March, but it can be extended if necessary.
Since the special law against terrorism provides that the dispatch of Self-Defense Force need ex post facto approval, not prior approval, the Japanese parliament will begin to examine it from Nov. 26. Though those dispatched warships and planes should stop their operations and return when their dispatch is not approved by the parliament, there is no such possibility since even the first opposition Democratic Party is agreeing on the dispatch of Self-Defense Force.
( November 26, 2001)
