The Air Self-Defense Force is preparing to send C-130 transports packed with emergency supplies to earthquake-stricken China as soon as Tokyo gets the final go-ahead from Beijing, government officials said Thursday.
The ASDF began making preparations to go to China to help survivors of the quake in Sichuan Province after Beijing told Tokyo via unofficial channels that it would not object to the use of military planes.
The first and only priority of an ASDF dispatch would be to provide humanitarian aid to the earthquake survivors, the officials said, emphasizing there were no political ramifications.