http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/japan-to-halt-us-refuelling-mission/story-e6frg6so-1225787114577
Japan to halt US refuelling mission a.. From: AFP b.. October 15, 2009 JAPAN'S Parliamentary Defence Secretary Akihisa Nagashima said he told the United States that Tokyo will halt a refuelling mission backing US forces in Afghanistan. Nagashima, the third-ranking defence official, had notified the White House and Defence Department that Japan would stop the naval mission in the Indian Ocean in January. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who took office last month, has said he wants "more equal'' relations with the United States and that he opposes plans for a new US military air base to be built on southern Okinawa island. Hatoyama, whose party in opposition spoke out against Japan abetting "American wars,'' has for months said it would not renew a naval refuelling mission in the Indian Ocean that was first launched in 2001. In Afghanistan, Hatoyama has proposed new, non-military support for Kabul, such as job training for former Taliban soldiers. Hatoyama, an admirer of Obama - who visits Japan on November 12-13 - has also said that he wants to work more closely with Washington on combating climate change and on nuclear non-proliferation. The naval mission has supported US and other NATO forces in the Afghan conflict with refueling and logistical support, but it has drawn scorn at home from left-leaning politicians now in Hatoyama's ruling coalition. The change of power in Tokyo has also revived debate on another long-simmering issue, the 47,000-strong US military presence in Japan that started with the superpower's post-World War II occupation. A flashpoint has been the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Base, located in a crowded urban area, where residents have long complained of aircraft noise, the danger of accidents, and occasional frictions with service personnel. Under a 2006 agreement which Japan, under a conservative government, struck with the United States's former George W. Bush administration, the base would be closed but replaced with a coastal facility to be built by 2014. Hatoyama has in the past said he wants the replacement facility to be built outside Okinawa or even outside Japan, a proposal also favoured by two minor parties whose support he needs in the upper house of the Diet legislature. The issue will be a key focus of the October 20-21 visit by Gates, the first by a US cabinet member since Japan's elections, said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell on Wednesday in Washington. Morrell said the United States remains committed to the 2006 agreement, under which thousands of US troops would also be moved to Guam. "We think these are very complicated agreements that are beneficial to both of our countries, and to our long-term relationship, and to the security situation in the region,'' he said. The official, who met National Security Adviser James Jones and Undersecretary of Defence Michele Flournoy, said the US officials had said Washington views the issue as a matter to be decided by Japan, Kyodo said. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
