Japan to send 1,000 men to the Philippines

From ABS-CBN (Nov 15): Japan to send 1,000 men to the Philippines

Japan's defense minister said on Friday preparations are underway to send up to 1,000 troops as well as naval vessels and aircraft to the Philippines to help with disaster relief following Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The deployment could be Tokyo's biggest since World War Two.

"We have three ships, including the Ise, berthed in Kure and loaded with aid and helicopters. Whichever way we are preparing a mission of 1,000 people and as soon as they are ready, we will discuss with the Philippine government on what actions to take," Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters.

The significantly expanded mission comes as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing to ease limits on the military imposed by Japan's postwar, pacifist constitution, and cope with the challenges of China's growing influence in Asia.

A Ministry of Defense official said the government was considering sending three naval vessels including the helicopter carrier Ise, currently in Kure, near Hiroshima city.

The mission could be bigger than Japan's relief efforts after the 2004 tsunami devastated Indonesia's Aceh province.

Japan has already donated $10 million in aid to the Philippines and sent a 25-strong emergency medical relief team as well as 50 troops.

Japan invaded the Philippines in World War Two and scattered fighting continued until Tokyo's surrender in 1945. But Philippine officials have said their nation does not share the concerns of others in Asia, notably China and South Korea, about Japan's military past.

The Philippines, like Japan, a strong ally of the United States, has also said it views Japan as a counterweight to the increasing regional role of China.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/15/13/japan-send-1000-men-philippines