- News>
- Afghan Cauldron
Japan PM to meet Bush, pledges full support
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Friday that he would meet US President George W Bush in Washington next week to pledge Tokyo`s full support for a ``war on terrorism`` after attacks on New York and Washington.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Friday that he would meet US President George W Bush in Washington next week to pledge Tokyo's full support for a ''war on terrorism'' after attacks on New York and Washington.
''I plan to tell President Bush that we share a strong anger at these extremely cowardly acts,'' said Koizumi, confirming he would meet Bush on Tuesday. ''I plan to say that Japan is not an observer in this battle against terrorists and that we plan to cooperate, making use of all our power,'' he told reporters.
Koizumi, who wants changes to Japan's pacifist constitution to clarify the role of the military, said this week that Japan would take measures to allow its forces to provide logistical support for US military operations in response to the attacks. This would probably include backup support such as providing medical services, gathering electronic intelligence, and supplying and transporting supplies.
A defence agency official said on Friday, Japan was considering sending surveillance aircraft as well as warships equipped with aegis air defence systems to the Indian Ocean to support US forces in the event of a strike on Afghanistan.
''We may send them for information collecting purposes, though nothing has been decided yet,'' the official said. Such backup support is about the only form of assistance Japan is capable of that would satisfy the United States.
''There are only three choices for Japan -- give money, bleed in battle or sweat away in tasks related to the battle,'' Kyodo news agency quoted a lawmaker from Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party as saying.
''Since the US does not want money and we cannot take part in conflicts, the only thing we can do is take part in tasks related to it,'' the lawmaker said. Bush says he is ''unalterably committed to a direct, forceful and comprehensive response'' to the attacks, while Japan is keen to avoid a rerun of its diplomatic disaster in 1991 when it refused to send even a token force to the Gulf War.
Instead, it extended $ 13 billion in aid for the US-led multinational forces that ousted Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
Japan on Friday said it would provide Pakistan with $ 40 million in emergency aid in return for supporting US efforts to track down Osama Bin Laden, believed to be in Afghanistan. Bin Laden is Washington's number one suspect in the attacks.
Bureau Report
''I plan to tell President Bush that we share a strong anger at these extremely cowardly acts,'' said Koizumi, confirming he would meet Bush on Tuesday. ''I plan to say that Japan is not an observer in this battle against terrorists and that we plan to cooperate, making use of all our power,'' he told reporters.
Koizumi, who wants changes to Japan's pacifist constitution to clarify the role of the military, said this week that Japan would take measures to allow its forces to provide logistical support for US military operations in response to the attacks. This would probably include backup support such as providing medical services, gathering electronic intelligence, and supplying and transporting supplies.
A defence agency official said on Friday, Japan was considering sending surveillance aircraft as well as warships equipped with aegis air defence systems to the Indian Ocean to support US forces in the event of a strike on Afghanistan.
''We may send them for information collecting purposes, though nothing has been decided yet,'' the official said. Such backup support is about the only form of assistance Japan is capable of that would satisfy the United States.
''There are only three choices for Japan -- give money, bleed in battle or sweat away in tasks related to the battle,'' Kyodo news agency quoted a lawmaker from Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party as saying.
''Since the US does not want money and we cannot take part in conflicts, the only thing we can do is take part in tasks related to it,'' the lawmaker said. Bush says he is ''unalterably committed to a direct, forceful and comprehensive response'' to the attacks, while Japan is keen to avoid a rerun of its diplomatic disaster in 1991 when it refused to send even a token force to the Gulf War.
Instead, it extended $ 13 billion in aid for the US-led multinational forces that ousted Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
Japan on Friday said it would provide Pakistan with $ 40 million in emergency aid in return for supporting US efforts to track down Osama Bin Laden, believed to be in Afghanistan. Bin Laden is Washington's number one suspect in the attacks.
Bureau Report