Japanese ruling and opposition lawmakers scuffle at the chamber in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 17, 2015. A special committee under the upper house of the Japanese national Diet passed the controversial government-backed security-related bills amid chaos in the chamber. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
TOKYO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- A special committee under the upper house of the Japanese national Diet passed controversial government-backed security-related bills amid chaos in the chamber.
The passage came without a final debate on the bills, paving way for the chamber's plenary session to vote the bills.
The Japanese ruling camp led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe secured the majority in the upper house, meaning that the controversial bills would be approved in the upcoming plenary at earliest on Thursday.
The opposition parties said earlier that if the bills were approved by the committee, they are expected to launch accountability resolution against the prime minister and no- confidence motion against Abe's cabinet in a move to delay the vote.
The bills, if enacted, will allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to engage in armed conflicts overseas, even if Japan is not under attack. However, the Japanese war-renouncing Constitution bans the SDF from using forces abroad.
The majority of Japanese public showed their opposition against the bills. Constant demonstrations with thousands of protestors were held daily across the country.
Related:
Spotlight: Overseas media, experts voice concern over Japan's new security bills
BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Overseas experts and scholars have voiced concern over Japan's new security bills which were bulldozed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe through the lower house of parliament on Thursday, saying the move will put Japan on a path toward militarization.
French newspaper Le Monde reported that Abe would find it very difficult to convince a public which has begun to turn against the new security bills.
About 25,000 protesters assembled in Tokyo to show their anger toward the rightist government's dangerous attempt to amend the country's defense policy.Full Story
