Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka on Thursday said she had received a request from Japan's ambassador to the United States asking Tokyo to assist U.S.-led military campaigns against terrorism. It is believed the request was based on U.S. demands.
She declined to reveal the contents of the written request but expressed disappointment in Ambassador Shunji Yanai, saying he should not have made the request while the issue is being debated in the Diet.
"I did receive a written request," Tanaka told a House of Representatives committee. "But at this point in time, I cannot comment on the specifics of our communication."