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)

"The government must more clearly disclose its activities over the last six years," DPJ secretary-general Naoto Kan told a Fuji TV talk show on Sunday.

Kan did not comment specifically on the draft law, but said, "How I see it, these activities are not based on a U.N. resolution ... and violate the constitution."

On Saturday, the country's largest business daily, the Nikkei, said Japan was preparing to withdraw its ships entirely from the region because the government did not expect to meet the deadline _ a report quickly denied by the Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated Sunday the government remained confident it can win backing of the opposition, which controls parliament's upper chamber.

"We believe the new law will be approved in the upper house," Ishiba told a separate talk show aired by TV Asahi.

"Afghanistan remains a terrorist hotbed, and peace in that region is in Japan's national interest," Ishiba said. "Why shouldn't Japan provide fuel to ships that patrol the sea, to prevent the proliferation of terrorism and drugs?"

The LDP lost control of the upper house in elections in July. It still controls the lower house, however, which can override an upper house decision.

But Fukuda, who took office last month, has sold himself as a compromiser and promised to reach a consensus with the opposition over the Afghan mission.

Japan, America's top ally in Asia, also backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq and provided ground troops for a non-combat, humanitarian mission in southern Iraq from 2004-2006. Since removing ground troops last July, Japan has expanded its Kuwait-based air operations.

Japan also hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops and is working with the U.S. on a joint missile defense system.