WARSHIPS HOME

Japan

Japan's defense minister orderedthe nation's naval ships， a de-stroyer and a supply ship thathad been refueling Americanand other warships， to returnfrom the Indian Ocean onJanuary 15 to end an eight-yearrefueling mission in support ofthe war in Afghanistan， ignor-ing requests from the Obarnaadministration to continue themission as a show of diplomaticsupport for Washington.