Japan May Cut Support of Afghan Mission

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda responds to questions delivered by opposition secretary general Yukio Hatoyama during the plenary session of the lower house at the Parliament in Tokyo, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye) (Itsuo Inouye - AP)

TOKYO -- Japan would scale back its support of the U.S. in Afghanistan by ending naval assistance to vessels involved in ground missions there under a ruling party proposal that officials predicted Sunday would gain parliament's approval.

Since 2001, Japan's navy has been providing fuel for coalition warships under an anti-terrorism law that has been extended three times. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has strongly pushed for another extension to the mission, which expires on Nov. 1.

However, Fukuda has been forced to make concessions because of strong resistance from the opposition bloc, which took control of parliament's upper chamber following a massive electoral defeat for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in July.

A new draft law, submitted to the opposition Friday, would clearly limit the mission to naval refueling and supplying of water to vessels participating in the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom's maritime patrol missions in the Indian Ocean.

"Under the new law, there will be no refueling to ships providing support for ground operations (in Afghanistan)," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Sunday on a public broadcaster NHK talk show.

It was not immediately clear how seriously U.S. ground operations in Afghanistan would be affected. As of Aug. 31, 2006, Japanese vessels had supplied about 120 million gallons in fuel worth $168 million to coalition vessels, according to the Foreign Ministry.

"The Indian Ocean is an important passageway for much of the world's oil, and tankers passing through could fall victim to terrorism," Komura said. "Providing security there is valued highly by the international community, and we will continue to provide logistical support."

According to LDP's Web site, the new draft law would also rule out search and rescue missions, as well as humanitarian relief efforts.

The current law allows more leeway in what kind of support Japan's military can provide _ a sensitive issue because of the country's pacifist constitution.

The LDP had hoped to secure a quick compromise with the opposition over the draft law before the mission expires. But the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan has demanded a full debate in parliament, raising the possibility the government will not meet the Nov. 1 deadline.

The Democrats are critical of the mission because they say the U.S.-led Afghan campaign has not been properly sanctioned by the United Nations. They also say the mission violates the pacifist constitution.

Opposition lawmakers have also alleged that oil supplied by Japanese ships was diverted to U.S. operations in Iraq, triggering public outrage.