The Japan Coast Guard is sending a a patrol boat and a jet aircraft to help combat piracy in waters off Southeast Asia.
Coast guard officials identified the patrol ship as the 5,300-ton Mizuho, which will carry two helicopters onboard, and the jet as a Falcon 900.
It is the sixth time Japan has dispatched a patrol ship, and the third time an aircraft, in line with greater efforts by Japan and other Asian nations since 2000 to combat piracy in Southeast Asian waters, the officials said Monday.
The Mizuho is to leave Japan Aug. 1 and steam for Brunei, where it will stay until Aug. 16 to engage in drills mainly in cooperation with the local coast guard.
The Falcon 900 was to leave Wednesday for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia until next Tuesday to carry out drills and patrols, according to coast guard officials.