VOTE TO RAISE JAPAN FORCE ROLE DELAYED
Opposition says move violates Japan’s war-renouncing constitution
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country needs the bills to bolster its defense amid China’s growing assertiveness and to share global peacekeeping efforts
TOKYO—Japan’s parliament prepared yesterday for another battle of wills as opposition lawmakers persisted in blocking rulingparty bills aimed at increasing the military’s influence, a highly sensitive issue in a country that takes pride in its pacifist constitution.
The legislative standoff is the latest development in a years-long national debate about the way Japan uses its military.
It’s a central question for the country since its armed forces were defeated in World War II seven decades ago.
Lawmakers in the Upper House security legislation committee returned to their seats yesterday afternoon, but the meeting started with a no-confidence motion against its chairman who earlier tried to force the meeting.
The motion was the latest delaying tactic by the opposition lawmakers who are trying to scrap the bills that would allow the military to defend Japan’s allies even when the country isn’t under attack, work more closely with the US and other allies, and do more in international peacekeeping.
Despite the delays, the bills are likely to be passed eventually because Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc has a majority in the Upper House.
Abe says Japan needs the bills to bolster its defense amid China’s growing assertiveness and to share global peacekeeping efforts.
Opponents say the legislation violates Japan’s war-renouncing constitution, while putting Japan at risk of being embroiled in US-led wars.
As the drama was plying out in parliament, a small group of protesters continued to rally outside the building under a steady rain, after a bigger demonstration the previous night.
The protesters shouted “Scrap the bills right now” and “No to war bills,” while flashing placards with anti-Abe and antiwar messages.
Opposition lawmakers, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, prevented colleagues from entering a designated upper house chamber all night Wednesday.
They filled the hallway outside the room, blocking the chairman and holding up a preliminary question-and-answer session.
The ruling party’s hopes that final approval by the full Upper House would take place later on Thursday look increasingly difficult as the opposition plans to propose a series of no-confidence votes against Abe’s Cabinet and its key members. (AP)