Japan refuels US Navy ship monitoring North Korea

An MSDF ship refuels a Pakistani destroyer in the Arabian Sea in 2007. Photo: AP

The refueling mission is regulated under the Acquisition and Reciprocal Servicing Agreement (ACSA) signed between Japan and the United States after a controversial national security law took effect in March 2016.

The new security law allows for greater cooperation between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military, and allows Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense. It also allows supplies and other resources, including ammunition, under certain conditions, such as when Japan's life is threatened.

According to sources, the supply ship Mashu and other MSDF vessels supplied more than 5 million liters of fuel to a US Navy Aegis ship patrolling the Sea of ​​Japan from May to December 2017. MSDF ships also supplied other MSDF vessels in the same waters. These ships are on a mission to monitor possible ballistic missile tests by Pyongyang. Last year, North Korea conducted 15 missile tests.

Refueling allows U.S. Navy ships to extend their patrol missions without returning to base. U.S. military officials have long sought cooperation from the MSDF for refueling purposes, and the request reflects a change in Japan’s Self-Defense Forces law.

In addition, from May to August last year, the MSDF helicopter carrier Izumo provided fuel and food to US naval vessels during joint training exercises in the South China Sea. Izumo also received about 2 million liters of fuel and food from US naval vessels.

This exchange demonstrates that Japan-US cooperation has been expanded to sea areas where China has increased its military presence./.