Japan parliamentary committee approved bill to allow country's troops to fight abroad 1507154

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Defence & Security News - Japan
 
Japan parliamentary committee approved bill to allow country's troops to fight abroad
A Japanese parliamentary committee approved legislation that would expand the role of Japan's military on Wednesday, July 15th, announced several local medias. The approved security bills would allow the country's troops to fight abroad, despite the opposition from the majority of ordinary residents.
     
Japan parliamentary committee approved bill to allow country s troops to fight abroad 640 001The controversial bill would allow Japan SDF to fight abroad
     
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed that the bills are essential for Tokyo's new challenges in the region, such as China.

The unpopular legislation was crafted after Abe's Cabinet adopted a new security policy last year that reinterpreted a part of Japan's post-World War II constitution that only permitted the nation's military to use force for its self-defense. The bills in question would allow Japan to also defend aggression against its allies — a concept called collective self-defense.

Abe has argued that Japan should better prepare for China's regional threat and do more to contribute to international peacekeeping efforts.

In case of approving the initiative, that is currently being discussed in the parliament, Japan will be for the first time entitled to conduct warfare abroad since defeat in WWII.

But opponents, including legal experts and academics, counter that the new interpretation is unconstitutional. Moreover, over half of the population claim it won't serve the interests and national security of the country.