Tokyo mulls swift naval dispatch to Somalia

Japan said on Friday it may send navy ships soon to help combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, an announcement that came the same day three Chinese ships were scheduled to set off for the area.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso ordered Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada to press ahead with deliberations on how the armed forces could act against the pirates, the government's top spokesman told reporters.

"He ordered the defense minister to speed up considerations so that we can act quickly," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters.