The Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Thursday approved the provision of logistic support to the U.S.-led military strikes in Afghanistan, moving the plan a step closer to final Diet passage.
Final approval is expected during an Upper House plenary session today. Under the special antiterrorism law enacted Oct. 29, the Diet has to approve within 20 days any SDF dispatch. Six Self-Defense Forces ships have already departed for the Indian Ocean.
The government plan was pushed through with support from the ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan.