A bill is being drafted to make it easier for the Self-Defense Forces to use their weapons if they engage in antipiracy missions off Somalia, government sources said Friday.

The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc kicked off debate Friday, and the government hopes to submit the bill to the Diet to deploy Maritime Self-Defense Force ships off Somalia, where piracy has been rampant. Any government bill must be endorsed by the ruling bloc before going to the Diet.

The relaxed rules may allow the MSDF to fire on armed ships to prevent piracy even when not under attack, stirring concern of violating the war-renouncing Constitution.