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CNN Live At Daybreak

Japan Provides Refueling, Support Ships to U.S. War on Terror

Aired February 19, 2002 - 05:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Japan has joined the United States in the global war against terrorism. The Japanese Navy is providing refueling and support ships to the U.S. Navy off of Afghanistan.

It's a small but significant step for the Japanese, as we learn from CNN's Tom Mintier, who is aboard the destroyer Kamera. And he joins us this morning by video phone -- good morning.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. It is, indeed, a major step for Japan. We are aboard one of five ships. There are three destroyers and two oilers that are providing logistical support to coalition ships here in the Arabian Sea. And that's about all I can tell you.

For the past four months since they have left Japan, they have, indeed, refueled both American and British ships using the Japanese assets here in the Arabian Sea to do that. They are continuing on their mission, a mission that is a rather historical one. We are the first Western journalists ever to be on a Japanese defense force destroyer and this is the first time they've ever conducted an actual mission outside the territorial waters of Japan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MINTIER (voice-over): Welcome to the new Japanese Navy, officially called the Maritime Self-Defense Force, or SDF, heavily regulated by the Japanese constitution and severely limited up till now to operations around Japan. The Japanese have built the SDF into one of the world's top four militaries, not in size, but in its annual budget.

Since September the 11th, the Japanese have taken on a new role, combined operations with other nations away from Japan. These sailors are currently in the Arabian Sea. The weapons systems aboard a Japanese destroyer like this one are sophisticated -- .76 millimeter rapid fire deck guns, .20 millimeter cannons, torpedo tubes and C Sparrow missile launchers.

The Japanese role here, however, is limited to logistics. The JDS Tawada has no guns. It is outfitted with fuel.

While the Japanese have trained with the U.S. Navy over the years, this is the first deployment on a tactical operation. The only shooting going on here is a supply line to a coalition ship for refueling. The Tawada is a floating gas station. As the two ships steam side by side, the supply lines are connected.

CAPTAIN ARAI (ph): The two ships are close, it's dangerous. But we make safely.

MINTIER: Captain Arai has been a naval officer for 25 years, serving on nearly a dozen ships. He has been the captain of the Tawada for nearly a year. He says he has trained many times with the Americans. The captain tells me that he was born after WWII, so he has never thought of the Americans as the enemy. There is always a close friendship, he says, and he is glad to help support U.S. Navy operations.

Life aboard a Japanese ship is no different than an American one. The differences are rice instead of potatoes. But just as in the U.S. Navy, the flavor comes out of a bottle of sauce. Enlisted men eat here. Officers and visitors like myself have a tablecloth. Washing the dishes is the same in any language.

Crew members are close. There's little choice. Sleeping space is limited, three high with just enough room to get into the bunk. There are more than a dozen Japanese reporters with us on this voyage, getting a chance to see all parts of the ship, from the captain's bridge to the engine control room to the captain's golf driving range down below deck, with a bucket of what looked like well used golf balls.

This Japanese ship is nowhere close to Japan. They've been at sea for nearly four months, flying a flag that is not often see in this part of the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MINTIER: In previous conflicts, the Japanese contribution was limited to funding. But here they are actually supplying five ships, as I said before, three destroyers and two oilers. While they're not part of the coalition, they are providing support to it and they share the same concerns, according to the admiral. He told me this morning, "We are worried about the possibility of a terrorist attack." There is a guard at the front of the destroyer and at the stern and they are on the outlook for anything approaching this ship out in the Arabian Sea.

I'm Tom Mintier, CNN, reporting live from somewhere in the Arabian Sea -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Okay, thank you, Tom, very much for that live report this morning.

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