Japan passes bills allowing greater military role overseas

Unlike in July, when the bills were passed by the lower house amid an opposition walkout, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan remained in the chamber and voted against the bills.

Japanese lawmakers are fighting for peace – literally.

But it came with a price: A wild melee where legislators climbed over their desks, punching and grabbing each other.

Keiko Nagao, in her 40s, added: “A pacifist image is Japan’s treasure and if we lose it, it will be a big loss for our country”.

The proposal has been criticised in pacifist Japan, which since WWII has chosen to use its military only for self-defence. Now it can shoot down a missile only when it is fired at Japan.

The bills, championed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, sparked fierce and vocal opposition, with massive demonstrations in Tokyo streets in recent months and physical altercations in parliament this week.

But the majority of the Japanese population – and opposition lawmakers who started the Thursday night scuffle – are wary of the proposed laws.

The maneuvers were destined to fail, but ate up hours of time requiring debate and votes on each measure.

One of them amends 10 existing security-related laws to lift various SDF restrictions, including Article 9’s long-standing ban on collective self-defense.

The scene grew more violent as the two sides exchange slaps, shoves and punches.

TOKYO (AP) – Japan’s parliament has approved contentious legislation that enhances the role of the country’s military by loosening post-World War II constraints, as the ruling bloc defeated opposition parties’ last-ditch effort to block a vote. TORU HANAI/REUTERS Masahisa Sato (top c.), a member of the upper house special committee on security, and other lawmakers shout during the brawl.

The opposition also plan to file a no-confidence vote in the lower house and may even try walking at an extremely slow pace to some ballots, to use up as much time as possible.

Meanwhile, protesters outside braved heavy rain to show their disdain for the increased military power. “Japan is not committing to doing anything specific”, said Grant Newsham, senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo and a former U.S. Marine Corps liaison officer with the self-defense forces. Although the constitution, which bars troops from taking part in combat except in pure self-defence, was imposed by United States occupiers, many Japanese feel strongly that any change in the law would alter the country’s pacifist character.

The protests have called to mind those that forced Abe’s grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, to resign 55 years ago after pushing a US-Japan security treaty through parliament.

As with the proposed national security legislation, Japan is expanding its options and enhancing relationships around the region in response to China’s assertiveness; earlier this year, Japan and the Philippines held joint military exercises for the first time, and Japan’s strategic partnership with Vietnam has been lubricated by a common view that China is looking to “change the status quo” in the Asia-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea. The challenges of the current security environment make effective self-defense impossible if Japanese troops are not allowed to deploy overseas, not even to assist allies such as the United States.