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| Japan sends biggest warship to protect US supply vessel | Japan sends biggest warship to protect US supply vessel |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Japan has dispatched its biggest warship, in the first such operation since it passed controversial laws expanding the role of its military. | Japan has dispatched its biggest warship, in the first such operation since it passed controversial laws expanding the role of its military. |
| The helicopter carrier Izumo is escorting a US supply vessel within Japanese waters. | The helicopter carrier Izumo is escorting a US supply vessel within Japanese waters. |
| The US ship is heading to refuel the naval fleet in the region, including the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group. | The US ship is heading to refuel the naval fleet in the region, including the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group. |
| North Korea has threatened to sink the Carl Vinson and a US submarine, amid rising tensions in the region. | North Korea has threatened to sink the Carl Vinson and a US submarine, amid rising tensions in the region. |
| It also carried out a failed missile test, despite repeated warnings from the US and others to stop its nuclear and missile activity. | |
| The 249m-long Izumo can carry up to nine helicopters, and resembles US amphibious assault carriers, reported the Japan Times. | The 249m-long Izumo can carry up to nine helicopters, and resembles US amphibious assault carriers, reported the Japan Times. |
| Kyodo news agency said it was leaving its base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, to join the US supply ship and accompany it to waters off Shikoku in western Japan. | Kyodo news agency said it was leaving its base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, to join the US supply ship and accompany it to waters off Shikoku in western Japan. |
| Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars its military from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence. | Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars its military from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence. |
| Analysis by Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Tokyo | Analysis by Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Tokyo |
| Pacifist Japan has one of the most powerful militaries in the world, with a navy bigger and more modern than the British Royal Navy. | Pacifist Japan has one of the most powerful militaries in the world, with a navy bigger and more modern than the British Royal Navy. |
| Tokyo could have sent a much smaller destroyer to escort the US Navy's Richard E Byrd. But sending the 27,000-tonne Izumo was perhaps too good an opportunity for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Defence Minister Tomomi Inada to waste. | Tokyo could have sent a much smaller destroyer to escort the US Navy's Richard E Byrd. But sending the 27,000-tonne Izumo was perhaps too good an opportunity for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Defence Minister Tomomi Inada to waste. |
| Both Mr Abe and Ms Inada are right-wing nationalists who want to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution. That is all but impossible. So instead, last year, Mr Abe succeeded in pushing a new security law through parliament. | Both Mr Abe and Ms Inada are right-wing nationalists who want to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution. That is all but impossible. So instead, last year, Mr Abe succeeded in pushing a new security law through parliament. |
| In effect the new law ignores the constitution, and says Japan's forces can come to the defence of its allies. Mr Abe knows there is widespread public opposition to "remilitarising" Japan. So in that context, the growing threat from North Korea is useful to him. | In effect the new law ignores the constitution, and says Japan's forces can come to the defence of its allies. Mr Abe knows there is widespread public opposition to "remilitarising" Japan. So in that context, the growing threat from North Korea is useful to him. |
| When is military action allowed? | When is military action allowed? |
| The Izumo's deployment follows recent joint exercises conducted by Japan and the US, and other naval developments. | The Izumo's deployment follows recent joint exercises conducted by Japan and the US, and other naval developments. |
| A French amphibious assault ship arrived in south-west Japan on Saturday for an exercise also involving Japanese, US and British naval forces. South Korea has been conducting joint exercises with the US as well. | A French amphibious assault ship arrived in south-west Japan on Saturday for an exercise also involving Japanese, US and British naval forces. South Korea has been conducting joint exercises with the US as well. |
| China last week launched its second aircraft carrier. | China last week launched its second aircraft carrier. |