US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had talks in Washington
on Thursday with Japanese Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and thanked
Japan for continued logistical support for American military
operations in Afghanistan.
Rice thanked Koike "for Japan's efforts in fighting the war on
terrorism, especially with respect to their mission out in the
Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom," State
Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
"She expressed her thanks, and she also made it clear that this
is, of course, a Japanese decision, but we welcome all Japan's
continuing support for the mission," McCormack said.
It was reported that Washington has been pressing Tokyo to
extend a mission in which Japanese ships in the Indian Ocean
provide fuel and logistics for US forces in Afghanistan. Its legal
mandate expires November 1.
Japan's main opposition Democratic Party, which just captured
the upper house of parliament, has objected the extension.
During a meeting with US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer
Wednesday, President of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Ichiro
Ozawa said his party would insist on concluding the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's refueling operations for the US military by
Nov.1, the Daily Yomiuri reported.
(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2007)
