Japan to Send Mission to Malaysia over Missing Jet

Tokyo, March 11 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government decided on Tuesday to send a mission to Malaysia to cooperate in the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines jet under Japan's law on the dispatch of emergency missions abroad. The plan is based on a request from the Malaysian government. An advance team, which includes personnel of the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard, left Japan early Wednesday. After arriving in Kuala Lumpur, members of the team will meet with Malaysian government officials for coordination. The Air SDF will dispatch a C-130 transport plane, if necessary, to search for the missing jet. It would be the first time for the Japanese Defense Ministry to send the SDF overseas to search for a missing aircraft. The Japan Coast Guard is also preparing to dispatch its aircraft. The Malaysia Airlines jet, carrying 239 passengers and crew members, disappeared over the South China Sea on Saturday after departing from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Such countries as the United States, China and Singapore are involved in the search for the plane. Earlier on Tuesday, four key ministers from Japan's National Security Council met to discuss cooperation in the search for the plane. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference the same day that Japan is ready to cooperate. END