Japanese ships return home from Indian Ocean refueling mission

February 7, 2010: H.E. Ambassador Hakimi was on hand Saturday as H.E. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and gathered observes, including 340 Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) personnel, greeted the returning supply ship Mashu and the destroyer Ikazuchi at Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay. The two vessels served in the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of the international war on terror that came to an end with the expiration on January 15th of the Antiterrorism Law that authorized the mission. Japanese ships refueled coalition forces’ vessels for a period of 8-years.

The prime minister was quoted as saying that the end of the mission did not mean the end of Japan's role in the fight against terrorism stating that the government "will proactively support U.N. peacekeeping operations, work to prevent terrorism, provide humanitarian aid and defend our nation."