Three Air Self-Defense Force transport planes sent to Thailand for the possible evacuation of Japanese nationals from Cambodia arrived at Naha airport in Okinawa Prefecture on late July 17 without evacuees.
Kaoru Yosano, deputy chief Cabinet secretary, told an earlier news conference that all three C-130 Hercules planes had left the naval base in U-Taphao, about 175 km southeast of Bangkok. Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto had ordered the recall late July 16.
"We think that the situation in Cambodia is returning to normal in military, security and political aspects, and it is believed that Japanese who were in Cambodia and hoped to return to Japan have already left the country safely," said Yosano, who appeared at the news conference in place of Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama. Yosano added that 267 Japanese were still in Cambodia as of July 16, compared with approximately 570 when fighting broke out July 5 between rival Cambodian factions.