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China may take over Japan's refueling mission
The Chinese Navy is considering taking over the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that ended Friday, according to government sources.If it does take over the mission, China will increase its presence in the key sea-lane, where Japan is transporting crude oil from the Middle East, a development that is likely to draw criticism of the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hato-yama, which decided to terminate the mission. According to the government sources, a confidential Chinese government document states that the navy is undergoing training in preparation for a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The sources also said that when the MSDF's refueling mission was suspended in November 2007, a party connected to the Chinese Navy unofficially sounded out the U.S. government on taking over the mission. However, the United States did not accept the proposal at that time. I kinda get the feeling this report is motivated more by Japan's internal politics than any external reality. Then again, who knows? Posted by: Pstanley 2010-01-18 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=288236 |