Editorial
DPJ should clarify position on refueling mission in Indian Ocean in manifesto
Opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio Hatoyama announced that a DPJ-led government would end the Maritime Self-Defense Force mission in the Indian Ocean to refuel U.S. and other vessels engaged in the war against terror when the Anti-Terrorism Special Measure Law expires on Jan. 15 next year.
But the party does not mention the mission in the manifesto for the upcoming House of Representatives election it released on July 27. It should add it to its manifesto at an early date after coordinating views within the party, as it is an issue that will have an impact on future Japan-U.S. relations and is an important part of Japan's policy on the dispatch of Self-Defense Force personnel abroad.
The DPJ voiced opposition to the mission, saying it was unconstitutional, when the party was under the leadership of Ichiro Ozawa. Efforts by the administrations of Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fukuda to continue the mission were deadlocked because of the DPJ's opposition to the mission. It is one of the reasons why Abe and Fukuda resigned.
On July 17, Hatoyama said the DPJ would continue the mission for the time being if it takes over the reins of government following the general election, citing consistency of Japan's diplomatic policy. However, he did not clarify whether the party intended to continue the mission until the law expires, end the mission after analyzing the situation in Afghanistan or make a final decision after listening to the opinion of the U.S. government. Only later did he clarify the timing.
The largest opposition party stopped short of incorporating the issue in its manifesto apparently because the party is divided over basic defense policy and intended to secure a freehand if it takes over the reins of government. However, it certainly has made the DPJ's position on the refueling mission obscure in the eyes of voters.
Top DPJ officials have made conflicting statements over the issue. On July 24, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada pointed to the possibility that the party will continue the mission after Jan. 15 by revising and extending the special measures law. While acting leader Naoto Kan said the party will make a final decision on the issue by January next year. The confusion within the party is attributable to the lack of basic policy on the issue.
Hatoyama made the latest remarks on the issue, apparently considering the DPJ's relations with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), with which it aims to form a coalition government, as the SDP is strongly opposed to the mission. However, as it will certainly be one of the important diplomatic issues it will encounter if it takes over the reins of government, the DPJ should fulfill its responsibility to clarify its position.
The DPJ is considering revising its manifesto in order to incorporate a plan to set up a consultative body between the national and local governments over decentralization of power. It should take that opportunity to incorporate its basic position on the refueling mission as well in its manifesto.
U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to visit Japan before or after the summit conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be held in Singapore in mid-November -- after the general election -- and meet with Japan's prime minister.
If the prime minister declares at the summit that Tokyo will discontinue the refueling mission, Obama will certainly urge Japan to extend new contributions to Afghanistan, such as humanitarian aid and economic assistance. The DPJ should promptly work out the details of such measures.
(Mainichi Japan) July 31, 2009