TOKYO - JapanÂ’s opposition-controlled upper house Friday voted down an extension to a naval mission backing US-led operations in Afghanistan, but the bill was expected to pass later in the day.
The more powerful lower house, where conservative Prime Minister Taro AsoÂ’s coalition holds a majority, was set to vote in the afternoon to override the upper houseÂ’s decision, lawmakers said.
Japan provides fuel and other logistical support in the Indian Ocean to US-led forces engaged in the “war on terror” in Afghanistan as part of an operation which is due to expire in January.
The opposition last year forced a temporary halt to the Afghan mission. It argued that Japan, which has been officially pacifist since defeat in World War II, should not be part of “American wars.” |