Government to introduce refueling aircraft

Ignoring neighboring countries' serious concerns about Japan's
introduction of refueling aircraft, the government has designated the type
of plane to be used and decided to fund the research in next year's budget.

In late 2000, the government decided to introduce four refueling aircraft
for the Air Self-Defense Force, as part of the SDF five-year procurement
plan (2001-2005). Then, the Security Council of Japan in a meeting on
December 14 selected the Boeing-767, which costs 27.5 billion yen each. The
cost needed for research will be 10 million yen in FY 2002, the government
says.

In 1973, then Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei stated in the House of
Councilors Budget Committee meeting on April 10 that the SDF will not
conduct mid-air refueling and will not be equipped with refueling aircraft.

In explaining this, Defense Agency officials said that refueling aircraft
with long flying ranges are unacceptable because they may go deep into the
territorial waters and air space of foreign countries.

Based on this policy, the Air SDF removed refueling equipment from F-4s
and opted for refueling on the ground.

Later, the government attached a refueling device to the ASDF F-15 and
F-2 fighter aircraft. Defense Agency Director General Nakatani Gen began
arguing that the introduction of refueling aircraft to the SDF will not mean
threatening neighboring countries.

Arguing that this is a unilateral misjudgment of the government, Akahata
on December 17 stated:

The introduction of refueling aircraft is serious in that it will allow
Japan's SDF to supply fuel to U.S. military aircraft. The government has
argued that the 1999 War Laws (related to the New Japan-U.S. Defense
Cooperation Guidelines) allow the SDF to use refueling aircraft for U.S.
Forces aircraft. (Ishiba Shigeru, DA deputy chief, February 27, 2001)

In the on-going U.S. military attacks against Afghanistan, a Maritime SDF
oiler is refueling U.S. warships based on the law to send the Self-Defense
Forces abroad to take part in U.S. retaliatory wars (SDF dispatch law).

If the refueling aircraft are introduced, it will mean for Japan to
reinforce its readiness to take part in U.S. wars abroad, the paper warned.
(end)