By Keiichi Yamamura and Keiko UjikaneAug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The Democratic Party of Japan leader, Ichiro Ozawa, indicated he won't back an extension of a Japanese naval deployment that aids U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, said Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, an official in the party.
The DPJ and other opposition parties control the Upper House of parliament after elections last month, giving Ozawa's party more power to block an extension of the anti-terror legislation that authorizes Japan's naval mission in the Indian Ocean. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he wants parliament to extend the law, which expires on Nov. 1.
``The biggest problem for Japan is there's no principle of dispatching self-defense forces overseas,'' Ozawa said, according to Yamaguchi. ``We should positively participate in actions which the United Nations authorizes,'' Ozawa said, reiterating his view the war in Afghanistan isn't backed by UN resolutions.
Yamaguchi, who is spokesman for foreign affairs for the DPJ, spoke to reporters after Ozawa met today with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Tokyo today.
``Japan should bear a heavier responsibility if the nation wants to play an active roll in the global community,'' Merkel told Ozawa, according to Yamaguchi.
The German leader thanked Japan for its ``logistical support'' at a joint press briefing yesterday after meeting with Abe. The Japanese naval mission in the Indian Ocean had supported German forces deployed in Afghanistan as part of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
Japan's anti-terror legislation was initially passed after the September 11 attacks.
Abe told reporters today in Tokyo that countries around the world expect Japan to carry on the mission, and he will continue negotiating with the DPJ.
Ozawa said on Aug. 8 that Japan's ship deployment contravenes Article 9 of Japan's Constitution which renounces war. It was written by the U.S. during its occupation following the defeat of Japan in World War II.
To contact the reporters on this story: Keiichi Yamamura in Tokyo at kyamamura@bloomberg.net ; Keiko Ujikane in Tokyo at kujikane@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: August 30, 2007 00:59 EDT
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