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Thousands of protesters rally against Japan PM Shinzo Abe’s security bills

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About 25,000 protesters gather outside the parliament building in Tokyo to oppose a set of controversial bills intended to expand Japan’s defense role. Photo: AP

Thousands of Japanese rallied Sunday in protest at plans by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to bolster the role and scope of the pacifist nation’s military.

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The protest which surrounded the parliament building was held as the nationalist premier tries to force through parliament a set of controversial bills making the changes.

The bills are a pet project of Abe, who says Japan can no longer shy away from its responsibility to help safeguard regional stability, and must step out from under the security umbrella provided by the United States.

The draft legislation would broaden the remit of Japan’s well-equipped and well-trained armed forces.

It would allow them to go into battle to protect allies -- so-called “collective defence” -- something which is banned by a strict reading of Japan’s pacifist constitution.

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Opponents of the bills accuse Abe of trying to move the country away from pacifism, while three scholars summoned to parliament testified this month that the bills are unconstitutional.

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