The Liberal Democratic Party may draft a new law to protect Japanese vessels that drill for gas in the East China Sea, where the exclusive economic zones of Japan and China are in dispute, a senior LDP member said Tuesday.

"We will prepare for legislation as our party's policy, although it has not been decided whether a bill will be proposed by the government or a group of lawmakers," said House of Councilors member Keizo Takemi, who heads an LDP committee on marine resources.

Takemi spoke to reporters after the meeting, but avoided specifying what dangers the ships might face.