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Opposition groups yesterday vowed to challenge laws passed overnight that clear Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since the second world war.
Japan's ruling coalition, led by nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, pushed the laws through in the early hours of Saturday morning after days of tortuous debate that at points descended into physical scuffles in parliament.
For the first time in 70 years, the new laws will give the government the power to send the military into overseas conflicts to defend allies, even if Japan itself is not under attack.
The nationalist premier argues the laws are necessary to protect against threats from an increasingly belligerent China and unstable North Korea, but opponents fear the vague wording could see Japan dragged into far-flung foreign wars.
Abe has faced bitter opposition over the changes, which have seen his popularity slump, and opposition lawmakers have vowed to do everything in their power to fight them.

"This is not an end," said Renho, a senior lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, who goes by one name. "Let's make it the beginning of the beginning," she said on Twitter.
Mizuho Fukushima, a senior lawmaker from the Social Democratic Party, told a crowd of more than 10,000 who gathered outside parliament during the debate: "Abe's cabinet criminals ... Let's get them out of here."
Speaking after the vote, Abe said the changes were "necessary in order to protect people's lives and peaceful way of life".
"This is designed to prevent wars," he told journalists.
Abe had been unable to muster support to amend the pacifist constitution and instead opted to "reinterpret" the meaning of self-defence in order to push through the new laws, but the move has sparked a groundswell of opposition not seen for decades in Japan.

Even under the new legislation, Japan's military will still be more restricted than other countries: parliament will have to approve any deployments based on strict criteria, and force must be kept to a minimum.
Tokyo has said the changes would allow troops to help their American counterparts, but officials have remained tight-lipped on who else it would cover.
It could include Australia, with which Japan has forged closer military ties in recent years, and the new laws were welcomed by the country's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. "These reforms will allow Japan to make a greater contribution to international peace and stability," she said.
The Philippines, which has recently forged closer ties with Japan and has maritime territorial disputes with China, also welcomed Tokyo's reforms. Earlier this year, the Philippines hosted two naval exercises in quick succession with Japan, and Manila is seeking greater defence tie-ups between the two countries.
South Korea, by contrast, yesterday urged Japan to preserve the spirit of its pacifist constitution.

"As the Japanese government publicly said many times, it should retain the spirit of the pacifist constitution that Japan has consistently maintained in deciding and carrying out defence policies since the end of the war," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Japan's new defence and security policies "should also be conducted in the direction of contributing to peace and stability in the region", it said.
The statement also emphasised South Korea's long-held position, saying that "any issue concerning security on the Korean Peninsula and our national interests would not be condoned without our request or consent" when Japan tries to implement its right for collective self-defence. Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Shinzo Abe

Opponents vow to fight laws expanding role of Japan's military

Japan's ruling party lawmakers, who supported the legislation loosening post-war constraints on use of force by the military, applaud after the new laws are passed in a vote by Tokyo's upper house.Photo: AP

Protesters react after the security bills are approved.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a lower house no-confidence resolution on his cabinet on Friday. Photo: AFP

South Korean protesters rallied against the security related bills of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea on Friday. Photo: EPA

Fighting over pacifism: Japan upper house panel approves controversial defence bills after scuffles in parliament

Opposition lawmakers crowd around Masahisa Sato (2nd L), deputy chairman of the upper house special committee on security.  Photo: Reuters

A scuffle breaks out during heated debate about the security bills.  Photo: Reuters 

Opposition lawmakers surround chairman Yoshitada Konoike (2nd L-arms out) during the Upper House's ad hoc committee meeting on the controversial security bills. Photo: AFP

Tensions were high during the committee meeting.   Photo: AFP

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Photo: AFP 

'Pandora's Box' fear as Japan passes bills empowering its military to fight overseas

The bill was pushed through in the early hours of Saturday morning after days of tortuous debate that at points descended into physical scuffles in parliament. Photo: AFP

Japanese people protest against Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial security bills. Photo: AFP

 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo (R) at the Lower House session on Friday. Photo: EPA

Japanese Self-Defense Force soldiers rappel from Black Hawk helicopters during an annual training session near Mount Fuji. They will be allowed to fight overseas for the first time since the second world war. Photo: Reuters

China accuses Japan of destabilising regional security after Tokyo approves security bills

A protester shouts slogans as he is surrounded by police officers during a rally against the Japanese government in front of the parliament building in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AP

Japanese defense minister Gen Nakatani bows during an Upper House plenary session to vote for controversial security bills at parliament in Tokyo on Saturday morning. Photo: EPA

Ruling lawmakers applaud passing controversial security bills as opposition lawmakers are disappointed in Tokyo. Photo: EPA

Protesters reacts after Japan's parliament approves the security bills at a rally against Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bill. Photo: Reuters

An observer is taken away by security guards after jeering an upper house plenary session at the parliament in Tokyo on Friday. Photo: AP

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Opposition groups are still determined to challenge laws just passed that give Tokyo the power to send Japanese troops into overseas conflicts


Opponents vow to fight laws expanding role of Japan's military

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Opposition groups are still determined to challenge laws just passed that give Tokyo the power to send Japanese troops into overseas conflicts

Opposition groups are still determined to challenge laws just passed that give Tokyo the power to send Japanese troops into overseas conflicts