Japan eyes easing limit on use of weapons in MSDF antipiracy mission

TOKYO, Nov. 20 Kyodo - Japan is considering easing the current constitutional limit on the use of weapons by the Self-Defense Forces if the forces are deployed in antipiracy activities in waters off Somalia under a possible new law, according to a draft bill made available Thursday.

The draft bill, which would also authorize the Maritime Self-Defense Force to
subdue pirates if they use weapons to resist and allow the force to escort
foreign ships, is likely to spur controversy in light of the war-renouncing
Constitution and the ban on the exercise of the right to collective
self-defense.
Prime Minister Taro Aso's government or a group of legislators will try to
finalize the bill and submit it to parliament during the next ordinary Diet
session expected to convene in January, ruling coalition lawmakers said.
But it is uncertain whether the government will be able to secure parliamentary
approval for the bill due to anticipated disputes over its legality and the
situation in the legislature, where the opposition camp controls the House of
Councillors -- the upper house of the bicameral parliament.
The draft bill envisages deploying the MSDF to protect commercial ships such as
oil tankers and to prevent possible piracy, based on a U.N. resolution in June
urging member countries to deal with the growing number of pirate attacks in
the region.
The MSDF would operate in Japanese territorial waters and waters off Somalia,
monitoring ships and escorting them, and would be empowered to stop and inspect
suspected pirate boats if necessary, according to the draft bill.
The draft bill also states that the MSDF would leave if a conflict occurs nearby.
The bill was drafted after Aso told his deputies in the administration as well
as relevant legislators from his dominant Liberal Democratic Party to study the
feasibility of the mission.
==Kyodo