Taking up Japan's offer to provide logistical support to US-led military actions in Afghanistan, the US has requested that Japan dispatch a state-of-the-art Aegis destroyer to the Indian Ocean, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its Saturday morning edition. The US is asking the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to transport fuel and supplies to a US military base on the island of Diego Garcia, as well as supply fuel to US ships in the Indian Ocean.

In addition, the US wants Japan to mobilise MSDF destroyers to police and monitor the waters around Diego Garcia.

The Japanese government plans to accept most of the requests, but some in the government and ruling coalition parties are expressing caution about the mobilisation of an Aegis-equipped destroyer.
The Anti-Terrorism bill that will enable the SDF's logistical support of the U.S. has already cleared the lower house of the Diet, and is expected to pass the upper house as early as next Friday. The SDF's logistical support includes assistance in the areas of transport, supplies and medical treatment. Bureau Report