TOKYO: The Japanese government plans to put off approving the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces troops to the Middle East from the currently planned Monday to Dec. 27, informed sources said Thursday.

The government is also considering a plan for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to directly explain the mission to the public at a press conference, the sources said.

The government initially aimed to approve the dispatch at a cabinet meeting Friday. But the date was moved to Monday after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Japan from Friday was decided. Abe will meet with Rouhani on Friday afternoon.

Abe, meanwhile, is set to make a three-day visit to China from Monday. It has been judged that giving cabinet approval would be better on Dec. 27 than on Monday just before his departure to China, the sources said.

Abe aims to gain understanding from Rouhani about the plan to conduct information-gathering activities in waters off the Middle East independently without joining a US-led coalition to safeguard waters around the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere.

JIJI Press