SYDNEY, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Friday his government will do all it can to extend Japan’s anti-terrorism law after its Nov. 1 expiration.
His assurance came after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Sydney.
Under current law, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels provide refueling services in the Indian Ocean to support of U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations in and around Afghanistan. There have been U.S. concerns whether the law would be extended because of opposition from other Japanese parties, Kyodo news service reported.
Rice told Machimura the United states won't let any improvement in relations with North Korea undermine its ties with Japan, Kyodo reported.
The two also noted the need for U.S.-Japan cooperation in the effort to denuclearize North Korea and in dealing with global warming, the report said.
