Scuffle in Japan upper house as controversial military bills pass
Japan’s upper house has given the green light to new legislation
allowing the armed forces to conduct warfare abroad, for the first time
in 70 years, since the end of WWII. The move has triggered a wave of
mass protests from the public.
Proponents of the new bill
and opposition MPs scuffled over the controversial bill on Thursday.
Opponents of the bill brawled with MPs of the ruling coalition after
members of the opposition blocked parliament’s doorways and corridors in
protest.
READ MORE: ‘War is over!’ Scuffles in Tokyo as anti-military protesters rally against Abe policy
There was also a ruckus on the streets of Tokyo, where many thousands of anti-military protesters rallied in front of Japanese parliament, protesting against controversial legislation allowing the deployment of troops abroad for the first time since WWII. An estimated 13,000 people rallied outside parliament headquarters in Tokyo, with 13 of them reportedly arrested for “obstructing officers.”
Having a majority in the upper house, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc has forced the legislation in, justifying the unpopular measure by the military rise of the neighbor China and tensions around the islands in the South China Sea.
PM Abe's government asserts the revised legislation is vital for dealing with the modern challenges Japan is facing and serves the common interests of Tokyo and Washington, Japan’s principal ally.
Opponents of rewriting pacifist legislation maintain the amendments violate Japan’s constitution and could lead to Tokyo getting involved in Washington’s military interventions worldwide.
READ MORE: ‘War is over!’ Scuffles in Tokyo as anti-military protesters rally against Abe policy
There was also a ruckus on the streets of Tokyo, where many thousands of anti-military protesters rallied in front of Japanese parliament, protesting against controversial legislation allowing the deployment of troops abroad for the first time since WWII. An estimated 13,000 people rallied outside parliament headquarters in Tokyo, with 13 of them reportedly arrested for “obstructing officers.”
Having a majority in the upper house, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc has forced the legislation in, justifying the unpopular measure by the military rise of the neighbor China and tensions around the islands in the South China Sea.
PM Abe's government asserts the revised legislation is vital for dealing with the modern challenges Japan is facing and serves the common interests of Tokyo and Washington, Japan’s principal ally.
Opponents of rewriting pacifist legislation maintain the amendments violate Japan’s constitution and could lead to Tokyo getting involved in Washington’s military interventions worldwide.