By Xinhua,
Tokyo : Japan’s lower house passed a bill Tuesday to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
The adoption of the bill, which aims to extend for one year the mission in support of U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations in and near Afghanistan, came after it was approved Monday by the lower house’s special panel on the issues of anti-terrorism and reconstruction of Iraq.
The bill, however, is likely to be thrown out by the opposition-dominated upper house at the end of the month. In this case, the ruling-led House of Representatives will force it through the Diet by holding an overriding second vote.
Under a temporary one-year law, the refueling mission of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in the Indian Ocean is to expire on January 15, 2009. The bill to extend the mission was brought before parliament on September 29.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has voiced his resolve to continue the mission on various occasions.
At an annual review of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces Sunday, Aso said as a member of the international community, Japan will not “choose to withdraw from the mission.”
On Friday, Aso made clear his determination to continue the mission at a lower house session, saying that it was to Japan’s benefit.