Japan's House of Representatives on Friday passed through a second vote an anti-piracy law enabling the expansion of Self-Defense Forces' mission in waters off pirates-infested Somalia.
The new law is expected to take effect in late July, according to government officials.
Compared with the existing provisions, the law features relaxed restrictions on use of weaponry and objects of protection.
Japan has sent two destroyers and two P-3C patrol aircraft to waters off Somalia, based-on the "maritime police action provision".
In dealing with the pirates, the Self-Defense Forces Law restricts the use of weapons under the circumstances where the forces are being attacked.
The new anti-piracy law, which expands the Self-Defense Forces' protection mission to any commercial ship from pirates regardless of a Japanese connection and allows Japan's destroyers to fire at pirates in case they ignore repeated warnings, paves the way for amplifying Japan's role in solving the pirate problem off Somalia.
Political analysts worry that the approval of the anti-piracy law will raise Japan's neighboring countries' concerns about Japan's attitude towards its war past.
They say peace-loving people in Japan and the international community also worry that Japan will gradually sway from the direction of peace and development.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2009)
