Japan to eye options if U.S. seeks coalition on Middle East threats

Japan will consider options if the United States seeks cooperation in safeguarding commercial shipping in the Middle East following recent attacks on oil tankers in the area, Japanese officials said Wednesday.Under the bounds of the pacifist Constitution, Japan will likely have only limited options such as providing logistical support under a special law, as was seen in the aftermath of the terror attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the officials said.It is uncertain whether President Donald Trump would turn to Japan for help as Washington has increasingly pointed to threats fro…READ FULL ARTICLE