TOKYO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese parliament passed an antipiracy law Friday expanding the Self-Defense Forces (SDF)'s protection mission to any commercial ship from pirates, regardless of a Japanese connection.

    The bill was blocked in the opposition-controlled Upper House in the morning but got passed through a revote in the more powerful Lower House, where it won more than two-thirds of support votes from lawmakers.

    At present, Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyers operating in waters off Somalia are only authorized to protect commercial ships under Japanese flag or carrying Japanese nationals from pirates under the Self- Defense Forces Law.

    In addition to lifting the limitation on ships, the new antipiracy law also allows Japan's destroyers to fire at pirates in case of they ignore repeated warnings and deemed as dangerous.

    Opposition parties have criticized the legislation, arguing the law will pave way for dispatch of the SDF abroad at will, which is a sensitive issue in Japan due to constitutional limits on the use of force.

    Japan now has two destroyers in the waters off Somalia to protect ships from pirates. Two P-3C patrol planes have also been dispatched to the region for surveillance missions over the gulf.