Japan Extends Antipiracy Mission off Somalia

November 9, 2018

Tokyo--The Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting on Friday to extend by another year the Self-Defense Forces' antipiracy mission in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, which is due to expire on Nov. 19.

Under the antipiracy law, Japan has since 2009 has dispatched Maritime SDF destroyers and P-3C patrol aircraft to the gulf to protect commercial shipping in waters off the African country.

Since 2011, the number of piracy cases in the Gulf of Aden has been small.

Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a press conference the same day that the situation stems from steady measures taken by the countries fighting piracy in the waters.

Iwaya said Japan decided to extend the antipiracy mission by a year, taking into account the developments of the whole international community. Jiji Press