Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner New Komeito party basically agreed Tuesday to a government plan to dispatch the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) for an antipiracy mission off Somalia, local media reported.
　　The Article 9 of current Japanese pacifist constitution after World War II only allows the MSDF to protect ships flying Japanese flags or carrying Japanese nationals.
　　Kyodo News said the government seeks to send the mission under the provision of the Self-Defense Forces law to protect Japanese ships.