Is Japan ready to support a U.S. military strike against Iraq? This question came up recently during what was supposed to be a secret meeting of Japanese Foreign Ministry and Defense Agency officials.
Despite the government's earlier "read my lips" statements that supporting U.S. military action to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by force would not be part of the "unconditional support" Prime Minister Koizumi promised U.S. President George W Bush after Sept 11, Japan is now reportedly considering continuing to refuel U.S. warships in the Indian Ocean in the event of a U.S. military strike against Iraq.
Under the Japanese Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law enacted last Oct 29, Japan's Self-Defense Forces have sent naval vessels and 1,500 troops to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and British warships as Japan's contribution to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
In April, Japan's mission was extended for another six months after the Bush administration "convinced" Koizumi that sailing home was not an option just yet, now that, according to Washington, the war on international terrorism had only just begun.
Despite the government's earlier "read my lips" statements that supporting U.S. military action to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by force would not be part of the "unconditional support" Prime Minister Koizumi promised U.S. President George W Bush after Sept 11, Japan is now reportedly considering continuing to refuel U.S. warships in the Indian Ocean in the event of a U.S. military strike against Iraq.
Under the Japanese Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law enacted last Oct 29, Japan's Self-Defense Forces have sent naval vessels and 1,500 troops to the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and British warships as Japan's contribution to the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
In April, Japan's mission was extended for another six months after the Bush administration "convinced" Koizumi that sailing home was not an option just yet, now that, according to Washington, the war on international terrorism had only just begun.