Politicians must clarify positions on refueling mission
(From The Japan Times Oct. 22 issue)

インド洋給油活動についての国会論戦

The government has submitted to the Diet a bill to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan. This set the stage for a confrontation between the ruling and opposition blocs.

Under the current law, which expires Nov. 1, the MSDF supplied about 484,000 kiloliters of fuel oil to naval ships of 11 countries between September 2001 and the end of last August. The government says it is crucial that Japan remain in "the line of battle" against terrorism to maintain the alliance between Japan and the United States. But suspicions have arisen that the United States might have used MSDF-supplied oil for war operations in Iraq, violating the principle of the antiterrorism special-measures law.

The Diet must scrutinize the MSDF's Indian Ocean mission in detail. Ruling and opposition parties must seriously discuss how Japan can best contribute to eradicating the roots of terrorism.

The bill would authorize the MSDF's refueling activities for another year. But this period can be extended by up to one year if the necessity arises. It limits the MSDF's supply support to naval ships engaged in maritime operations aimed at intercepting the movement of suspected terrorists and narcotic drugs in the Indian Ocean.

The Democratic Party of Japan, which opposes the bill, proposes that Japan instead strengthen support of public welfare improvements in Afghanistan. The government opposes such a proposal, citing a deteriorating security situation there. Ruling and opposition blocs should carefully examine each other's proposals so that the merits and demerits become clear to the public.

政府は、インド洋における連合軍艦船への海上自衛隊の給油活動を継続させるための新法案を国会に提出、国会で与野党の論戦が始まった。

11月1日に期限切れを迎える現行のテロ特措法の下で、海上自衛隊は01年9月から今年8月まで連合国艦船のために給油活動を行った。政府は、日米同盟を維持するため、テロとの闘いを支援することが必要だとしているが、米軍がテロ特措法に反し、補給を受けた油をイラク戦争に使った疑惑が浮上している。国会はインド洋の給油活動を精査し、与野党は日本がいかにテロとの闘いに貢献できるか真剣に議論せねばならない。

新法案に反対する民主党は、日本がアフガニスタンの民生支援を行うことを提案している。政府はアフガニスタンの治安が悪化していることを理由に、民主党案に反対している。与野党は、国民に明確に分かるよう、それぞれの提案の得失を明らかにすべきである。