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Japan, US Hold Consultations on SDF Dispatch
Japan and the United States on Friday held consultations in Tokyo over a basic action plan for the Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to provide logistical support to the ongoing U.S.-led military operations.
Japan explained what type of support it can provide at the first bilateral meeting at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, according to the officials from the Foreign Ministry.
Richard Christenson, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo who headed the U.S. delegation, emphasized that foreign countries' participation in the U.S. antiterrorism military campaign in Afghanistan should be "self-supportive," meaning they should not be dependent on the United States in any way, these officials said.
The two sides agreed that another committee meeting will take place if needed, but said that regular working-level negotiations under the framework should suffice to move the negotiations forward, said the officials.
The coordination committee, set up during bilateral security talks on Thursday as part of an overall framework to shape the basic plan, includes high-level experts from the Japanese
government, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S. military bases in Japan.
Japanese government plans to approve a basic action plan for the SDF support on November 13, according to Japanese government officials.
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