Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a command yesterday
afternoon to withdraw the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), which has been
undertaking the refueling mission for the US-led military operation in and
around Afghanistan, from the Indian Ocean.
Ishiba's command at 3pm by telegraph was first issued to the MSDF's warship
vessels headquarters which is located in Kanagawa Prefecture south of Tokyo, and
the headquarters then delivered the order to the fleet in the Indian Ocean.
The MSDF supply ship Tokiwa and destroyer Kirisame are to set out their
journey back home Thursday midnight of Japanese time (7:00pm local time), and
will arrive at their bases in Japan in three weeks, according to defense
ministry officials.
The withdrawal of the fleet is in accordance with the special antiterrorism
measures law's expiration yesterday, and will mark the end or suspension of the
Japanese armed forces' first post-war overseas mission, which started in
December 2001.
As the departure was officially ordered, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
reiterated the necessity to resume the refueling mission as soon as possible.
In a statement released to the public, Fukuda, who's been suffering from
harassment due to the opposition bloc's insisted refusal to extend the mission,
expressed his determination to enact a new bill so as to allow the resumption of
the mission.
"We need to make our utmost efforts to continue the refueling mission as it
involves fulfilling our responsibility in the world campaign against terrorism,"
Fukuda said.
The premier stressed that the antiterrorism war is related to Japan's
national interests and pledged continued cooperation with the international
society for reconstructing Afghanistan.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said the statement will be
delivered to related countries through diplomatic channels.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Machimura described giving up "the
responsibilities as a member of the international society" as a "major stain" in
the Japanese history.
According to Japan's official statistics, the MSDF has provided about 490,000
kiloliters of oil to vessels from 11 countries in 794 missions, and more than 80
percent of the oil went to US warships.
The nearly six-year-long refueling activities have been undoubtedly a robust
support for the multinational forces. While the stop of the energy supply is
sure to cause trouble for the US-led military operation, the US side did not
exert excessive pressure on the Fukuda government or expressed much unhappiness
toward Japan on the issue.
Japanese political affairs analysts said although the pullout of MSDF may
temporarily cool down the Japan-US ties, it will not wage any impact of
magnitude on the ally between the two countries.
During a recent interview with Japanese correspondents, senior Pentagon
officials said the cease of refueling is not significant enough to baffle the
US-Japan ally, and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will not raise the issue
during his upcoming visit to Japan.
According to Japanese media, Fukuda planned to directly explain issues
surrounding the refueling mission to US President George W. Bush during his
US-tour slated for mid November.
Fukuda is facing a critical challenge on the domestic political stage.
Although his Cabinet submitted to the Diet on Oct. 17 a new bill to replace the
expiring special antiterrorism measures law, the MSDF's refueling mission is
unlikely to be resumed as the opposition camp, which controls the Upper House of
the Diet, strongly opposed the bill and refused to compromise on the matter.
Analysts said the Fukuda Cabinet can by no means enact the bill under normal
procedure during the current Diet session through Nov.10.
Since the ruling Liberal Democratic Party controls the Lower House, which
holds the final say in the Diet, the last method for Fukuda is to ignore the
Upper House's decision and forcibly pass the bill in the Lower House.
However at this rarely-used method, the Fukuda Cabinet has to take the public
opinion into consideration to avoid a credibility crisis which could finally
cripple the government.
The Japanese parliament passed the original special antiterrorism law in Oct.
2001, one month after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The Japanese
government's subsequent dispatch of the MSDF into overseas mission under the law
was the first of its kind after WWII, marking a milestone-like transition in
Japan's defense policy.
The law was extended for two years in 2003 and was extended for one year in
2005 and 2006 respectively.