(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Japan’s participation in the war on terrorism lacks the support from a majority of the country’s citizens, according to a poll by Kyodo News. 46.7 per cent of respondents oppose Japan’s role in the Afghanistan fuelling assistance mission, while 38.8 per cent support it.

Afghanistan has been the main battleground in the war on terrorism. The conflict began in October 2001, after the Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people.

Japan did not commit its Self-Defence Forces to combat duties in Afghanistan, but has participated in a naval mission by offering logistical support and fuelling assistance in the Indian Ocean.

An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July. Final results gave the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the House of Councillors for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

The governing LDP has supported the mission in Afghanistan, first under former prime ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, and more recently during the government of Yasuo Fukuda. However, opposition parties reject Japan’s participation in the war on terrorism. The Afghanistan fuelling assistance mission expired on Nov. 1.

On Dec. 14, the Japanese government decided to extend the current parliamentary term until Jan. 15, 2008, in order to discuss Japan’s participation in Afghanistan. Chief cabinet secretary Nobutaka Machimura urged lawmakers to come to an agreement soon, saying, "We have to resume the refuelling mission in the Indian Ocean as soon as possible."

Also on Dec. 14, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer declared: "Japan is doing a lot (in Afghanistan). (...) I made a plea (to Japanese lawmakers) and asked them if it were possible that there could be support by sending civilian helicopters to Afghanistan."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose Japan’s participation in the Afghanistan fuelling assistance mission?

Source: Kyodo News
Methodology: Interviews with 1,033 Japanese adults, conducted on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, 2007. No margin of error was provided.

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.