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Japan set for final vote on security bills Japan set for final vote on security bills
(about 2 hours later)
Japan's upper house is set to hold its final vote on bills to expand the role of the country's military abroad. Japan's upper house is set to hold the final vote on bills to expand the role of the country's military abroad.
The measures are expected to pass, despite public protests, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition controls the House of Councillors. The changes will allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.
The controversial changes will allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. They are expected to pass, despite public protests, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition controls the House of Councillors.
The vote is going ahead despite last-ditch attempts to delay it by opposition politicians on Thursday. Politicians have first been voting on opposition censure motions brought in an attempt to delay the bills' passage.
Opposition parties have promised to keep trying to delay the bills' passage, through censure motions and other tactics, possibly including walking at an extremely slow pace to the final vote. The opposition also plan to file a no-confidence vote in the lower house and may even try walking at an extremely slow pace to some ballots, to use up as much time as possible.
On Thursday, opposition politicians tried to physically delay proceedings ahead of a committee vote on the bills.
What is collective self-defence?What is collective self-defence?
Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence.Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence.
Mr Abe's government has pushed for security legislation that would allow Japan's military to mobilise overseas when these three conditions are met:Mr Abe's government has pushed for security legislation that would allow Japan's military to mobilise overseas when these three conditions are met:
What's behind Japan's military shift?What's behind Japan's military shift?
The bills have prompted large public protests for months.The bills have prompted large public protests for months.
Critics say that the changes, which re-interpret rather than formally change the constitution, violate Japan's post-war pacifism and could lead it into unnecessary US-led wars abroad. The changes re-interpret rather than formally change the constitution. But critics say this will violate the pacifist constitution and could lead Japan into unnecessary US-led wars abroad.
Supporters of the measures, which are backed by Washington, insist they are essential for the defence of Japan and its regional allies, and will permit greater involvement in peacekeeping activities around the world.Supporters of the measures, which are backed by Washington, insist they are essential for the defence of Japan and its regional allies, and will permit greater involvement in peacekeeping activities around the world.