Japan on Thursday
moved closer to enabling its military to take a more active role in conflicts
overseas as lawmakers passed legislation that has stirred strong resistance
after seven decades of pacifism.
Thousands of
people protesting the change gathered in pouring rain outside parliament, where
members of the lower house voted to approve a set of bills backed by Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe.
Opposition
parties boycotted the vote. The bills will now move to the upper house of
parliament, where Abe's coalition holds a majority.
The Prime
Minister has been trying to make Japan, a key U.S. ally, more assertive
militarily. Last year, he sanctioned a reinterpretation of the country's
pacifist post-World War II constitution,
drawing widespread protests.
The bills going
through parliament at the moment will allow the Japanese military, known as the
Self-Defense Forces, to join its allies in a limited role in conflicts abroad.
U.S. welcomes change
The United States has supported Abe's
push.
"We
certainly welcome, as we've said before, Japan's ongoing efforts to strengthen
the alliance and to play a more active role in regional and international
security activities," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said
Wednesday.
In April, the
two countries announced
significant changes to the
guidelines that govern their defense relationship, saying Japan would be able
to defend allies that come under attack.
Japanese troops
operating overseas had previously been limited to humanitarian roles.
Beheadings by ISIS
But many Japanese people are fearful of
the consequences of taking a tougher military stance, worrying it could draw
Japan into wars by allies and put soldiers and citizens at risk.
The country was
shaken this year by the beheadings of two of its citizens by ISIS, which linked the killings to the
Japanese government's pledge to provide funds to help people affected by the
terrorist group.
The security
bills have drawn criticism from high-profile figures, including the
renowned animator and director Hayao Miyazaki.
Opposition
lawmaker Yukihisa Fujita told CNN this week that the change will "damage
the way Japanese people and country is viewed. It will damage the view of
Japanese as a diplomatic nation."
China and South
Korea have also expressed concern about Japan's shifting military stance.
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