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Japan won't join US military coalition in Mideast, mulls own dispatch

TOKYO, Oct 18 (KUNA) -- Japan said Friday it plans to dispatch Self-Defense Forces (SDF) ships and patrol planes to the Middle East, but will not join a US-led military coalition to safeguard strategic waterways amid tensions with Iran.
"Japan will make its own efforts. We will not join the US, but will closely cooperate with them," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference. Tokyo will deploy the SDF units for "survey and research" activities to gather information in the region, the top government official explained. Japan and Iran have long amicable relations.
"SDF assets will ensure the safety of vessels related to Japan," said Suga, adding that potential locations for the dispatch include the Gulf of Oman, the Northern Arabian Sea and the eastern part of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to Suga, the government has not decided when it will dispatch the SDF units.
Concerns over safety in strategic waters in the Arabian Gulf have been increasing since attacking two oil tankers owned by Japan and Norway in the Strait of Hormuz in June. Washington has called on its allies to join the coalition to ensure the safety of civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. So far, Australia, Bahrain, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have decided to participate. (end) mk.hb