By Xinhua,
Tokyo : The Japanese government decided Friday to extend the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF)’s airlifting mission in Iraq until July 2009 and to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)’s refueling mission in the Indian Ocean until January that year.
According to local press, as the two programs are to expire on July 31 and June 30 respectively, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s Cabinet regarded continued assistance in both operations as necessary.
“At the current moment, there is still much need for the U.N. multinational forces to engage in activities,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a regular press conference.
The ASDF has been engaged in airlifting troops and materials for the United Nations and the multinational forces in and around Iraq, while the MSDF has been refueling foreign military vessels in the Indian Ocean to assist the U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.