海角大神

Japan lawmakers move toward allowing troops to fight overseas

Japanese opposition lawmakers tried physically to obstruct the legislation in the upper house, triggering chaotic scenes. Japan's postwar constitution severely limits the deployment of its military.

Scuffles broke out among a scrum of Japanese lawmakers in the normally staid parliament Thursday as the nation moved closer to enacting laws allowing its military to fight abroad for the first time in 70 years.

The legislation would free Japanese forces to conduct operations, including alongside with the US military, even if the country itself is not attacked. The laws challenge decades of pacifism in Japan and work around Article 9 of the nation鈥檚 constitution, which is why opponents have been so vocal for the past few months.聽

A committee vote in the upper house today was taken without an audible announcement, causing opposition lawmakers to surge to the podium as the measure passed. Earlier they tried to pass a vote of no confidence against the committee chairman.聽

聽reports that a聽member of parliament from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe鈥檚 ruling Liberal Democratic Party said:

"Although it was unfortunate that the bills had to be approved this way, they are absolutely needed in order to protect the lives and happiness of the people," Masahisa Sato 鈥� told public broadcaster NHK shortly after the vote. "We are relieved. Now we will do our utmost for approval of the bills in a house vote."

Japan has been inching towards a more robust and 鈥渘ormal鈥� military for nearly a decade. But Mr. Abe, seen as more hawkish than past Japanese leaders, has sped up the process, and against a backdrop of increasing assertive postures in East Asia by rival China.聽

Two weeks ago, following a solemn 70th聽anniversary of World War II in Japan, China through Tiananmen Square in Beijing, presided over by President Xi Jinping. Mr. Xi comes to the US next week, his first state visit since formally taking power in 2012.聽

Japan is the main US ally in Asia and Abe visited the White House last spring before giving an unprecedented speech to a joint session of Congress. During the trip he vowed to pass the new security legislation early this summer. But public opposition in Japan has been stiffer than he anticipated.

Abe does appear to have the votes for the bill to pass the Diet, perhaps on Friday, but public support is tepid.聽In an Asahi Shimbun poll in late August, and 51 percent were opposed. Asked whether they thought the legislation needed to be enacted during the current Diet session, only 20 percent of those polled said yes, while 65 percent answered no.

CNN today

Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators have been gathering in recent weeks outside the Japanese parliament building -- the largest demonstrations of their kind in Japan in more than 50 years. They are students and teachers, workers and retirees, grandchildren and grandparents.

Some wear work attire or school uniforms. Others have T-shirts, bandanas, or posters with spirited slogans like "No war! No Abe!" 鈥撀燼 message to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 鈥撀爓ho has grown increasingly unpopular in recent months for doggedly pushing the controversial security bills through the Japanese parliament.

Despite low voter ratings Abe days ago was selected for another three-year term as head of the LDP. He earlier served as a key aide to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi then himself became prime minister before stepping amid scandal and his party's steep losses in the Diet. He became prime minister again in 2012. Abe comes from a prominent family and is known as a nationalist who wants to restore pride in Japan.聽

Abe, whose grandfather served in General Hideki Tojo鈥檚 war cabinet, has argued a more robust defense policy is needed given China鈥檚 muscle flexing and the threat from international terrorism. China and South Korea, two victims of Japan鈥檚 20th century aggression, have accused Abe of reviving militarism.