Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says the government is considering what can be done within the framework of Japanese law to secure the safety of Japan-linked ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Takaichi disclosed the information on Monday at an Upper House committee meeting on the budget bill for the fiscal year that begins in April. The bill passed the Lower House last week.
The Diet discussions follow US President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz. Takaichi is set to meet Trump later this week.
Lawmaker Hirota Hajime, who belongs to a parliamentary group of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, asked about Trump’s expectations.
Hirota expressed the view that ship escorts, mainly by the United States, in the Strait of Hormuz present a very high risk amid the ongoing hostilities involving Iran.
He noted that there is a strong likelihood that the US will ask Japan to take part in escort activities at the upcoming summit, and asked how the government intends to respond.
Takaichi said Japan has not received a request yet, and it is difficult to answer a hypothetical question.
She added that the government is considering what can be done to protect ships related to Japan and the lives of their crew members within the framework of Japanese law.
She went on to say that nothing has been decided yet regarding the dispatch of destroyers.
She noted that the issue is not about responding to a request from the US.
Takaichi said serious discussions have been taking place across ministries in the past few days on what course of action Japan can take independently. She said the government will use the discussions as a basis to make the best decision within the framework of Japanese law.
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