Press Releases

The Enactment of the Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy by the Diet.

24th June, 2009

              On 19th June, the Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy was enacted by the Diet or the Japanese Parliament.

This law enables the Japanese Self Defence Force vessels to escort ships of other countries in addition to those related to Japan. Punishment of acts of piracy is also now possible.

              Two Japanese Self defence Force destroyers have already been deployed off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, since March of 2009, primarily to protect Japanese related vessels. From mid-June, two P-3C maritime patrol aircrafts have also been  dispatched. The new legislation will substantially strengthen the missions of these ships and aircrafts.

              The Japanese government will complete steps necessary to implement provisions of the new legislation as early as possible, with a view to enhancing international cooperation on addressing the piracy activities.

*The full text of Prime Minister Aso’s speech is available at the following website: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/asospeech/2009/06/19danwa_e.html

*The full text of Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr.Nakasone’s speech is available at the following website:  http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/6/1193289_1136.html

Any enquiry on this press release should be addressed to Mr. Tomohiro Kanata on email address: tomohiro.kanata@mofa.go.jp or Captain Keisuke Onozawa at e-mail address keisuke.onozawa@mofa.go.jp or on telephone number (679-330-4633).