Japan’s hint at an active military sparks protests

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday pushed through parliament’s lower house legislation that could see troops sent to fight abroad for the first time since World War II, despite protests and a risk of further damage to his sagging ratings.

A lower house panel approval on Wednesday of the unpopular bills, which would drop a ban on collective selfdefence or fighting to defend a friendly country like the US, sparked a huge demonstration nearby.

Protesters gathered holding placards and chanting “Stop Abe’s recklessness” and “Scrap War Bills”.

The protests were reminiscent of those that toppled Abe’s grandfather from the premiership 55 years ago after he rammed a revised US-Japan security pact through parliament.

Organisers said more than 20 000 had gathered yesterday despite threatened rain and claimed 100 000 took part the day before.

Abe says a bolder security stance, welcomed by its ally Washington, is essential to meet new challenges, such as those from a rising China.

“The security situation around Japan is getting tougher,” he told reporters after the vote, which took place after opposition parties walked out of the chamber.

“These bills are vital to protect the Japanese people’s lives and prevent war.”

The changes expand the scope for Japan’s military to also provide logistics support to friendly countries, relax limits on peace-keeping operations and make it easier to respond to “grey zone” incidents falling short of war.

Opponents say the revisions could entangle Japan in US-led conflicts around the globe and violate pacifist Article Nine of the US-drafted, post-war constitution.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the move called into question Japan’s post-war commitment to “peaceful development”, and urged Japan to learn the lessons of history.

Sino-Japanese ties have warmed since a November leaders’ meeting.