The Cabinet is expected to approve a Self-Defense Forces mission to the Middle East that will comprise a destroyer, patrol planes and 250 personnel as part of an intelligence-gathering operation.
In addition, one of two P-3C maritime surveillance planes deployed at Japan's base in Djibouti might be diverted for the mission.
This mission, the government insists, will be independent of the actions being taken in the volatile area by the U.S.-led military coalition, which Japan was asked to join.
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