Japan Once Again Says Won't Join US-Led Mission

TEHRAN (defapress) – Japan will not join a US-led mission to supposedly protect merchant vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.

News ID: 78587

Date: 03 September 2019 - 11:38

Citing unidentified government sources, the paper said Japan was considering a plan to send its Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) on information-gathering missions in the areas around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab shipping lane between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea.

It would also consider including the Strait of Hormuz in the SDF’s sphere of activity if Iran agrees, it said.

Asked about the newspaper report, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to mention specific measures that the government was considering to ensure the safety of Japanese vessels.

“As for what kind of steps would be effective to secure the safety of navigation of Japanese ships in the Middle East, we would like to look into the matter from various angles including stable crude oil supply, and Japan’s ties with the United States and Iran,” Suga told a regular news conference.

“As we investigate the issue, we want to keep our principle of maintaining our diplomatic effort for easing tensions and stabilizing the situation in the Middle East.”

Iran has denounced US efforts to set up the coalition and says only countries in the region can protect waterways and work toward signing a non-aggression pact.

The Japanese government is set to make a final decision, including whether the plan is feasible, after the United Nations General Assembly later this month, the Yomiuri said.

Suga said arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later this month.

Britain last month became the first US ally to announce its participation, although most European countries have been reluctant to sign up for fear of adding to the tension in the region.

In early August, Japan turned down the US request, saying it may send warships independently to protect Japanese ships in the world’s most important oil artery.

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