Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Saturday night that he expects to issue an order in early March for Japanese destroyers to be dispatched to waters off Somalia for an antipiracy mission.
It was the first time that Hamada, who made the remarks to reporters traveling with him to Munich, has clearly stated the likely timing of the order. He said the order will come only after the government submits a bill for the antipiracy mission to the Diet.
If Hamada issues the order in early March, two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers — the 4,650-ton Sazanami and the 4,550-ton Samidare — which are preparing for the dispatch, would arrive in waters off Somalia in late March at the earliest.