Jan 11, 2008TOKYO (AFP) - Japan ordered the resumption Friday of a naval mission supporting the US-led "war on terror" as the government overrode a rejection in parliament for the first time in the modern era.
Embattled Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda won US praise for taking the drastic measure to restart the mission but analysts said he risked a domestic backlash by ramming through the controversial legislation.
The opposition, which won control of one house of parliament last year, in November forced an end to the naval mission, under which Japan provided fuel in the Indian Ocean to coalition forces operating in Afghanistan.
The opposition-led upper house voted down legislation to restart the mission on Friday, the last day it had to take action on the bill.
But the move meant the bill returned to the lower house, where Fukuda's coalition still enjoys an overwhelming majority. The more powerful chamber immediately voted largely along party lines, 340-133, to approve the bill.
Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba promptly issued orders for ships to return to the Indian Ocean and said they would resume operations in about six weeks.
The dispute over the mission had been a factor in leading Fukuda's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, to resign in September.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) argued that the mission was vital to show Japan's contribution to international security.
"The refuelling operation contributes to the safety of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. It contributes to our national interest as we depend on oil from the Middle East," LDP lawmaker Kenji Kosaka said in parliament.
The United States, Japan's main ally, hailed Fukuda for pushing through the legislation.
"Terrorism is the bane of our time. By passing this legislation, Japan has demonstrated its willingness to stand with those who are trying to create a safer, more tolerant world," said Thomas Schieffer, the US ambassador to Japan.
The opposition countered that Japan, which has been officially pacifist since World War II, should not take part in "American wars." The upper house passed Friday a largely symbolic alternative bill calling for more civilian support to rebuild Afghanistan.
"The Japanese public don't want the refuelling mission to resume," opposition lawmaker Hiroe Makiyama said.
"If the prime minister really wants to enact the bill, he should seek voters' response" through an election, she said.
Embattled Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda won US praise for taking the drastic measure to restart the mission but analysts said he risked a domestic backlash by ramming through the controversial legislation.
The opposition, which won control of one house of parliament last year, in November forced an end to the naval mission, under which Japan provided fuel in the Indian Ocean to coalition forces operating in Afghanistan.
The opposition-led upper house voted down legislation to restart the mission on Friday, the last day it had to take action on the bill.
But the move meant the bill returned to the lower house, where Fukuda's coalition still enjoys an overwhelming majority. The more powerful chamber immediately voted largely along party lines, 340-133, to approve the bill.
Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba promptly issued orders for ships to return to the Indian Ocean and said they would resume operations in about six weeks.
The dispute over the mission had been a factor in leading Fukuda's predecessor, Shinzo Abe, to resign in September.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) argued that the mission was vital to show Japan's contribution to international security.
"The refuelling operation contributes to the safety of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. It contributes to our national interest as we depend on oil from the Middle East," LDP lawmaker Kenji Kosaka said in parliament.
The United States, Japan's main ally, hailed Fukuda for pushing through the legislation.
"Terrorism is the bane of our time. By passing this legislation, Japan has demonstrated its willingness to stand with those who are trying to create a safer, more tolerant world," said Thomas Schieffer, the US ambassador to Japan.
The opposition countered that Japan, which has been officially pacifist since World War II, should not take part in "American wars." The upper house passed Friday a largely symbolic alternative bill calling for more civilian support to rebuild Afghanistan.
"The Japanese public don't want the refuelling mission to resume," opposition lawmaker Hiroe Makiyama said.
"If the prime minister really wants to enact the bill, he should seek voters' response" through an election, she said.
Japan's 1947 constitution allows the lower house to approve a bill in a second vote by a two-thirds majority even after the upper house rejects it.
According to a parliamentary spokeswoman, the provision has been used only once before -- for a law regulating motor boat racing in 1951, a year before Japan regained its sovereignty following the US occupation.
"It's always possible that the public becomes divided. The clause in the constitution is meant for situations like this where the lower house and upper house have different decisions," said Ishiba, the defence minister.
But analysts said the drastic move proved risky for the LDP, which has been in power for all but 10 months since the conservative party was founded in 1955.
Fukuda is struggling to reverse sliding poll numbers following a raft of scandals.
"The fact that the government had to resort to the last measure shows the prime minister failed to engage the opposition," said Tetsuro Kato, political science professor at Hitotsubashi University.
"His cabinet's support rate could decline further," he said.
According to a parliamentary spokeswoman, the provision has been used only once before -- for a law regulating motor boat racing in 1951, a year before Japan regained its sovereignty following the US occupation.
"It's always possible that the public becomes divided. The clause in the constitution is meant for situations like this where the lower house and upper house have different decisions," said Ishiba, the defence minister.
But analysts said the drastic move proved risky for the LDP, which has been in power for all but 10 months since the conservative party was founded in 1955.
Fukuda is struggling to reverse sliding poll numbers following a raft of scandals.
"The fact that the government had to resort to the last measure shows the prime minister failed to engage the opposition," said Tetsuro Kato, political science professor at Hitotsubashi University.
"His cabinet's support rate could decline further," he said.
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