Japan’s parliament has passed a law allowing the nation’s forces to open fire on pirates operating off the coast of Somalia.
The new law will allow Japan’s maritime forces to attack pirate ships that approach other vessels in the Gulf of Aden, a key shipping route.
Yasukazu Hamada, Japan’s defence minister, issued an order on Friday to prepare for “an immediate and appropriate implementation” of the navy’s new mission after the law takes effect in late July, the AFP news agency reported.
The law will also allow Japanese forces to protect any commercial ships threatened by pirates, and not just those sailing under Japan’s flag or carrying Japanese cargo.
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Japan leads the way, and goes where others fear to tread. Good for them. Now if the rest of the international community could just muster up similar courage.