New defense chief gives 'low marks' to SDF refueling mission+

TOKYO, Sept. 17 Kyodo -
New Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Thursday he gives ''low marks'' to
Tokyo's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led
antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan, and repeated that he has no
plan to extend it after a temporary law authorizing the task expires in
January.

''I believe appreciation for Japan's mission is limited,'' Kitazawa told his
first press conference at the Defense Ministry.
The Democratic Party of Japan has opposed legislation for extending the
Maritime Self-Defense Force's deployment in the Indian Ocean at Diet sessions,
and the new DPJ-led government cannot make a ''contradictory'' move by
sanctioning continued operations, the minister said.
Kitazawa also said he has been doubtful about the cause of the U.S. war in Iraq
to counter terrorism since the beginning.
The refueling mission, in place since 2001, was briefly halted in November 2007
after a temporary law authorizing it lost effect. The operations resumed after
a new law was enacted in January 2008 and were extended to January 2010 after
an amendment last December.
Washington hopes Japan will continue the refueling operations, but State
Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Wednesday the United States intends to
discuss with Japan what will be Tokyo's alternative way of helping stabilize
Afghanistan if the mission is halted.
Kitazawa said the new government will study the possibility of dispatching
civilians to support Afghanistan instead.
''We cannot achieve international cooperation if we say 'bye' just as the law
expires,'' he said.
But he added a cautious approach is needed in examining that idea. The minister
said Tokyo will seek to gain the understanding of other countries over its
legislation authorizing the mission.
Kitazawa also said he plans to visit Okinawa later this month to hear the views
of Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima and local municipality heads on the planned
relocation of the U.S. Marines' Futemma Air Station within the southernmost
prefecture.
Although Japan and the United States struck an accord in 2006 on the transfer
of the U.S. military facility within the prefecture, the DPJ has suggested
moving the air station outside Okinawa or even outside Japan to lessen burdens
on local residents.
Kitazawa admitted that changing the relocation plan would be tough, and
stressed the importance of hearing local opinions first to build a future
strategy.
The 71-year-old minister emphasized that Japan should maintain an ''exclusively
defense-only posture'' and that the nation's 270,000-strong Self-Defense Forces
should serve only for the purpose of ''never waging a war.''
He also told senior Defense Ministry officials and SDF officers that the
Japanese government and parliament ''should not repeat their past mistake of
losing control of military forces'' and should adhere to the principle of
civilian control.
==Kyodo