Dec 23 10:25 PM US/EasternTOKYO, Dec. 24 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The government on Wednesday extended Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for another half year beyond its scheduled expiration on Jan. 15, 2009, under a recently enacted law.
The Cabinet at an extraordinary meeting endorsed a revision to the Basic Plan for the Maritime Self-Defense Force mission based on the Dec. 12 enactment of a law to extend until July 15 the refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan.
"It is good that we have been able to extend the mission from the standpoint of international contribution," Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters after the meeting, adding that the ministry will work to enhance the operations.
The government kept other parts of the Basic Plan intact, including up to 500 MSDF personnel being mobilized to take part in the mission and these personnel being sent to non-combat areas such as the Indian Ocean including the Persian Gulf.
Based on the revised Basic Plan, the MSDF is to deploy a supply ship and a destroyer to refuel foreign naval vessels participating in U.S.- led efforts to interdict ships linked to terrorism in the region.
Hamada said the refueling mission has served to cut off the source of funds for terrorists despite the declining number of refueling operations over the years. "Although the number of refueling (operations) for the United States has decreased, that for Pakistan has steadily increased. The ships from other countries have served to choke off such a source by providing patrolling activities, so we won't be discontinuing the mission yet," he said.
Posts
