Japan deploys aircraft to help Ukraine aid mission

A C-2 transport aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Force at the Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture, January Asahi Shimbun File photo A Self-Defense Forces transport aircraft left Japan on May 1 to carry supplies from the United Nations to countries neighboring Ukraine as part of efforts to help the war-torn country.

The mission, commissioned at the request of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, was intended to underscore Japan's role in helping Ukraine at a time when other nations have been providing it with weapons and other military equipment.

The C-2 transport aircraft of Air SDF took off from the Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture in the morning.

The mission met conditions for humanitarian aid activity under the law on cooperating with UN peacekeeping operations, and the government decided to deploy the aircraft.

The aircraft will make a stop in Dubai to load blankets and other supplies from a U.N. warehouse that stockpiled emergency goods for delivery to Poland and Romania.

The mission is expected to last through the end of June, and will be a weekly event.

A Defense Ministry official said the deployment of the SDF aircraft is intended to show the international community that Japan is doing its utmost to help Ukraine.

Japan provided bullet-proof vests and other supplies to Ukraine.

Some lawmakers with the Liberal Democratic Party said that the Ukrainian government did not include Japan on a list of countries in a video posted on its Twitter account to express gratitude for the aid provided to date.

Many Japanese government officials fear that Tokyo's efforts to help Ukraine are not recognized by other countries.

Japan drew international criticism for not sending SDF personnel to aid the coalition forces during the Gulf War of 1991.

Government officials are keen to keep a high profile in aid efforts toward Ukraine in order to avoid a repeat of that situation.