Japan's main opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama says his Democratic Party of Japan will end an anti-terrorism refueling mission in the Indian Ocean by the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
This is if the DPJ wins the general election on August 30th.This is the first time the Democratic Party chief has officially announced the plan to terminate the mission. The law for the mission is set to expire in January. Japan has already extended it many times.
Public opinion polls indicate the Democratic Party is headed for a historic victory over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Representatives election. The opposition and the ruling party have both unveiled their manifesto for the election.
(CCTV July 31, 2009)