Diplomatic notes were exchanged Tuesday in Tokyo between Japan and nations whose ships will receive fuel when the Maritime Self-Defense Force resumes its Indian Ocean support mission, with the understanding that the fuel will be used only for U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.
Following the Jan. 11 enactment of a new special antiterrorism law, two MSDF ships left last month to resume the refueling mission.
The MSDF duties were halted Nov. 1 when the previous special law on antiterrorism cooperation expired. The contentious mission came under fire from the opposition camp over allegations some of the fuel provided to U.S. warships may have been diverted for use in the war in Iraq.