Japan to end naval refueling mission for US-led forces in Afghanistan

October 12th, 2009 US, Japan to speed up Marine base relocation talksTOKYO — U.S. and Japanese officials said Monday that they plan to speed up negotiations over the relocation of a key Marine base ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to Tokyo next month.

September 25th, 2009 Japan launches probe of secret pacts with USTOKYO — Japan's new government launched an investigation Friday into whether previous administrations entered secret security pacts with Washington, including one said to endorse U.S. nuclear-armed ships despite a policy of barring such weapons.

September 21st, 2009 US wants equal ties with new Japanese govNEW YORK — The United States said Monday that it does not want to dictate policy to a new independent-minded Japanese government, even as it pushed for some aspects of the countries' security alliance to remain the same. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S.

September 21st, 2009 US wants equal ties with new Japanese governmentNEW YORK — Eager to play down differences with a newly elected Japanese government, a State Department official said Monday the United States will not dictate policy to its longtime ally, even as it pushed for aspects of the countries' security alliance to remain the same. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S.

September 20th, 2009 Japan may provide more aid to AfghanistanTOKYO — Tokyo is considering sending more financial aid to Afghanistan after its current naval refueling mission supporting the U.S.-led coalition ends next January, but has no intention of sending ground troops to the region, Japan's new foreign minister said Sunday. Japan has long been one of Washington's closest allies, but a new government that took power last week has said it wants to reframe its relations with the U.S.

September 18th, 2009 Japan, US agree to deepen allianceTOKYO — Japan's new foreign minister reassured the U.S. diplomat in charge of the Asia-Pacific region on Friday that Tokyo wants to strengthen bilateral relations despite potential areas of disagreement, including their long-standing military alliance.

September 2nd, 2009 US diplomat says US-Japan alliance to stay strongWASHINGTON — A senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday that the Obama administration is not worried that Japan's newly elected opposition party will distance that country from the United States.

August 17th, 2009 Japan opposition head seeks economic ties with USTOKYO — Japan's opposition leader, a strong contender to become the next prime minister, said Monday that Japan's ties with the United States are biased too heavily toward defense and said the focus should be shifted to the economy. Yukio Hatoyama, the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, made the comments at a debate among the leaders of six major political parties at the Japan National Press Club kicking off campaigns for parliamentary elections to be held Aug.

August 14th, 2009 US Marines to help train Georgian troopsTBILISI, Georgia — A group of U.S. Marines will arrive in Georgia to help train its troops for a mission alongside coalition forces in Afghanistan, the U.S.

August 3rd, 2009 Japan opposition says it's ready to stand up to USTOKYO — Japan's main opposition party said Monday that if it comes to power in this month's elections it will confront the United States on key military and diplomatic issues, but still regard it as the Asian nation's most important ally. The Democratic Party of Japan is widely tipped to win the Aug.

July 29th, 2009 Japan opposition wants to end pro-US missionTOKYO — The head of Japan's opposition said Wednesday that a refueling mission in support of U.S.-led operations in the Indian Ocean will end in January if his party takes power in next month's elections. Yukio Hatoyama said his Democratic Party's position has always been against extending the law that allows for the mission, which partially supports U.S.

July 6th, 2009 Japanese navy ships leave for anti-piracy missionTOKYO — Two more Japanese navy destroyers left Monday to join an international mission to curb piracy off the coast of Somalia, and for the first time will be authorized to escort both foreign and Japanese vessels. Iran, meanwhile, said it also sent two warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian merchant containers and oil tankers from Somali pirates.

July 3rd, 2009 TOKYO - Japan's Cabinet Friday approved a bill to extend its troops' refuelling operations in the Indian Ocean to help the US-led forces in Afghanistan by another six months till Jan 15 next year, a media report said. The current mission of Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) in the Indian Ocean is set to expire July 15.

April 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The tri-nation naval exercise Malabar between Indian, US and Japanese navies will kick off Wednesday off the coast of Okinawa in Japan, a naval official said here Tuesday. Ships, aircraft and submarines from the US, Japan and India will take part in the 2009 edition of the exercise from April 28 to May 3.

April 23rd, 2009 Japan lower house OKs piracy lawTOKYO — Japan's lower house approved an anti-piracy bill Thursday that will allow the country's navy ships on a mission off the Somali coast to escort foreign vessels. Japan has dispatched two destroyers to the Somali coast to join an international anti-piracy mission, its first policing action overseas.