German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa clashed Thursday over the Maritime Self-Defense Force's mission to provide logistic support for the NATO-led antiterrorist campaign in Afghanistan, with Merkel urging Japan to extend the operation.
Ozawa, head of the top opposition party, told Merkel he was against extending the mission, which lets Indian Ocean-deployed MSDF vessels provide fuel to ships from nations involved in the NATO effort, the party said.
The mission expires Nov. 1.