By Xinhua
Tokyo : Japan’s Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba Thursday ordered the withdrawal of the Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) from the Indian Ocean, which has been undertaking refuelling missions for the US-led military operation in Afghanistan.
The MSDF supply ship, Tokiwa, and destroyer, Kirisame, will return home at midnight Thursday, Japan’s NHK TV channel said.
The order was passed after the expiry of the special anti-terrorism law.
The departure of the MSDF vessels marked the end or suspension of Japan’s first post-war overseas mission of the armed forces, which started in December 2001.
According to official data, more than 484,000 litres of oil in about 794 sorties were provided by the MSDF to vessels from 11 countries.
Although the Japanese government submitted a new bill to the Diet on Nov 17 to replace the old law, the refuelling mission is unlikely to be resumed, as the opposition, which controls the Upper House of the Diet, strongly opposed the bill.
Japan’s political affairs analysts said it would be hard for the makeshift bill to be enacted during the current Diet session, which will continue till Nov 10.
In Oct 2001, the Japanese parliament passed the original anti-terrorism bill, a month after the Sept 11 attacks in the US.
The law was extended for two years in 2003 and later extended again for a year.