Dr. Singh visits Japan, security cooperation pact signed; Bill allowing continuation of Japan’s refueling mission in support of Afghan operations passed in Lower House; PM Aso criticizes US for removing North Korea from terror blacklist
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    • Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Japan during the week. Much of the media attention was focused on a free trade deal the two sides failed to agree on, even as the two sides passed another pact that could have even greater consequences for the region. This was the security cooperation agreement under which India and Japan would hold military exercises, patrol the Indian Ocean and conduct military-to-military exchanges on fighting terrorism1.

    Meanwhile, a House of Representatives panel passed a bill to continue Japan's refueling mission in support of US-led anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, paving the way for the lower house to approve it in a plenary session. The bill is expected to pass the Diet at the end of this month, as the lower house, controlled by the ruling parties, can hold a second vote to override the opposition-controlled House of Councillors' anticipated rejection of the bill, in line with constitutional provisions2.

    In other developments, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso criticised the US for the removal of North Korea from a terrorist blacklist and refused to give aid to Pyongyang under a nuclear disarmament deal3. Japan was also elected to the UN Security Council for 2009-2010, displacing a bid by Iran 4.

    During talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Aso proposed that Tokyo and Beijing open a hotline. The two countries were expected to reach an agreement on the proposal soon5.

    In other domestic developments, reports noted that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso might dissolve the lower house by the end of October and call for elections on November 306.

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