Hisane Masaki
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Only one of the ships is Japanese-registered, but 37 others are actually operated by Japanese shipping firms, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Two of the ships are operated by U.S. shipping firms.
Japanese law had previously allowed the navy to escort only Japan-related ships and to use weapons only in self-defense. The Anti-Piracy Law enacted in June allows the navy to escort foreign commercial ships and fire at pirate boats if they ignore warning signals and approach merchant ships.
The Japan Self Defense Force's activities abroad have been strictly constrained by the post-World War II pacifist constitution. It remains to be seen, however, whether Japan will be able to continue the SDF's anti-piracy mission.
The Democratic Party of Japan, led by Yukio Hatoyama, won a landslide victory in a general election on August 30, ousting the coalition led by Prime Minister Taro Aso's Liberal Democratic Party. The conservative LDP has ruled the country almost uninterrupted for more than half a century.
Although the DPJ is expected to approve the anti-piracy mission off Somalia, the leftist Social Democratic Party remains vehemently opposed to the mission, calling it a flagrant violation of the constitution.
Contact Hisane Masaki at [email protected]