indianguy
11-01-2007, 07:03 AM
Japan's refuelling mission has proved controversial at home
Japan has ordered the withdrawal of its two ships supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan.
The move follows the government's failure to agree a deal with the opposition to extend the mission beyond the end of its mandate on 1 November.
However, the government of Prime Minister Yasuo ***uda has said it would try to pass new legislation to allow a more limited mission.
Japan has refuelled coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since 2001.
"The government will make its utmost effort... to resume an important mission in the Indian Ocean," chief Cabinet spokesman Nobutaka Machimura said.
The US ambassador to Japan, Thomas Schieffer, said a permanent withdrawal would send a very bad message to the international community and terrorists.
Mr ***uda is due to visit the US next month, his first overseas trip since taking office.
Failed talks
Mr ***uda held talks on Tuesday with opposition Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, who said he could only back an extension to the mission if it was part of a United Nations operation.
The two men are due to meet again at the end of the week.
The ships involved - a destroyer and a refueller, with 340 troops - are to head for Japan later on Thursday. They last refuelled a ship on Monday.
Japan's mission has been dogged by allegations that Japan supplied far more fuel to US forces than officially recorded - encouraging speculation that Tokyo might have helped supply the US war in Iraq, not just its operations in Afghanistan.
Japan's constitution forbids it from fighting other nations, but the government has recently tried to revise it to allow for a more robust defence policy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7072485.stm
Japan has ordered the withdrawal of its two ships supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan.
The move follows the government's failure to agree a deal with the opposition to extend the mission beyond the end of its mandate on 1 November.
However, the government of Prime Minister Yasuo ***uda has said it would try to pass new legislation to allow a more limited mission.
Japan has refuelled coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since 2001.
"The government will make its utmost effort... to resume an important mission in the Indian Ocean," chief Cabinet spokesman Nobutaka Machimura said.
The US ambassador to Japan, Thomas Schieffer, said a permanent withdrawal would send a very bad message to the international community and terrorists.
Mr ***uda is due to visit the US next month, his first overseas trip since taking office.
Failed talks
Mr ***uda held talks on Tuesday with opposition Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, who said he could only back an extension to the mission if it was part of a United Nations operation.
The two men are due to meet again at the end of the week.
The ships involved - a destroyer and a refueller, with 340 troops - are to head for Japan later on Thursday. They last refuelled a ship on Monday.
Japan's mission has been dogged by allegations that Japan supplied far more fuel to US forces than officially recorded - encouraging speculation that Tokyo might have helped supply the US war in Iraq, not just its operations in Afghanistan.
Japan's constitution forbids it from fighting other nations, but the government has recently tried to revise it to allow for a more robust defence policy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7072485.stm