Japan sends biggest warship to protect US supply vessel

Japan has dispatched its biggest warship, in the first
 such operation since it passed controversial laws expanding the role of its military.

The helicopter carrier Izumo is escorting a US supply vessel
within Japanese waters.

The US ship is heading to refuel the naval fleet in the 
region, including the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group.

North Korea has threatened to sink the Carl Vinson and 
a US submarine, amid rising tensions in the region.

It also carried out a failed missile test on Sunday, despite
repeated warnings from the US and others to stop its
 nuclear and missile activity.

 the Izumo is the pride of the Japanese navy, and is by far its biggest ship.

The 249m-long Izumo can carry up to nine helicopters,
 and resembles US amphibious assault carriers, reported The Japan Times.

Kyodo news agency said it was leaving its base in
 Yokosuka south of Tokyo to join the US supply ship, and accompany it to waters off Shikoku in western Japan.

Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan is gradually 
pushing the limits of what its modern and powerful military 
is allowed to do, and with tensions high on the Korean peninsula, Mr Abe appears keen to try out the new laws 
for the first time, our correspondent says.

Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars its military from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence.

The Izumo is the first warship deployed outside of military
exercises under new laws passed in 2015 that allow Japan
 to come to the aid of an ally under attack known as "collective self- defence".

Mr Abe's government, which pushed for the change, 
faced criticism that the new laws could lead the country
 into unnecessary wars abroad - something Mr Abe has rejected.

The Izumo's deployment follows recent joint exercises conducted by Japan and the US, and other naval developments.

A French amphibious assault ship arrived in south-west 
Japan on Saturday for an exercise also involving Japanese, US and British naval forces. South Korea has been conducting joint exercises with the US as well.


China last week also launched its second aircraft carrier .