Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama confirmed on Monday that the government of his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will not renew the mission refueling military vessels in the Indian Ocean in support of the U.S.-led conflict in Afghanistan.

Hatoyama said at the Diet, Japan's parliament, that the nation would discuss future ways in which the nation can contribute to the stabilization of the region that would not involve military means.

The issue of Afghanistan and a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed by the former Liberal Democratic Party government in Japan and the former U.S. administration of George W. Bush have driven a wedge between the two nations in recent weeks, as the DPJ looks to change the partnership between the two nations.

U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Japan later this month, and the tensions on security issues have been highlighted by both local media and opposition politicians.

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