TOKYO - A SECOND Japanese warship left port on Friday to join in the country's anti-terrorism mission in the Indian Ocean.
The tanker Oumi left the port of Sasebo to join a destroyer that departed on Thursday for the refuelling mission in support of US-led forces patrolling the Indian Ocean, which was to begin in two to three weeks.
Japan had refuelled ships since 2001 in support of US-led forces in Afghanistan, but was forced to abandon the mission last November when the resurgent opposition blocked an extension of the operation.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party forced a law through parliament with its vast majority in the powerful lower house to allow the mission to resume.
The new mission will be more limited in scope, restricting Japanese ships to refuelling only boats not directly involved in hostilities in Afghanistan. The limit is aimed at winning over a public wary of violating the spirit of the post-World War II pacifist constitution.
Japan had been a vocal supporter of the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to the Indian Ocean mission, Japan sent a contingent of troops on a non-combat, humanitarian mission to southern Iraq from 2004 to 2006.
Before the naval mission was suspended in November, Japan had provided logistical support for six years to forces involved in the war in Afghanistan. It supplied about 500,000 kilolitres of fuel to coalition warships from the US, Britain and Pakistan, according to the Japanese government.
Public opinion polls show Japanese support a greater role for their troops abroad, but not in combat.
The Democratic Party of Japan, which took control of the upper chamber in elections last year, has opposed the mission because it says military operations in Afghanistan do not have the explicit support of the United Nations. The party also says the mission violates Japan's pacifist constitution. -- AP
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Japan warship to resume anti-terror mission in Indian Ocean 
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