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| Japan to allow military role overseas in historic move | Japan to allow military role overseas in historic move |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Japan's parliament has voted to allow the military to fight overseas for the first time since the end of World War Two 70 years ago. | Japan's parliament has voted to allow the military to fight overseas for the first time since the end of World War Two 70 years ago. |
| A vote on the new law was delayed for several hours as the opposition tried to stop the measure coming into force. | |
| Outside, demonstrators rallied in a last-ditch show of protest. | Outside, demonstrators rallied in a last-ditch show of protest. |
| Many Japanese are attached to the pacifist provisions in the constitution which banned fighting overseas. | Many Japanese are attached to the pacifist provisions in the constitution which banned fighting overseas. |
| The bills have already passed through the government-dominated lower house. | The bills have already passed through the government-dominated lower house. |
| The government says that the changes in defence policy are vital to meet new military challenges such as those posed from a rising China. | The government says that the changes in defence policy are vital to meet new military challenges such as those posed from a rising China. |
| It wanted to hold the vote before a five-day holiday begins on Saturday. The governing coalition has a majority in both chambers of the Diet, meaning that ultimately the opposition camp was powerless to stop the measure becoming law. | It wanted to hold the vote before a five-day holiday begins on Saturday. The governing coalition has a majority in both chambers of the Diet, meaning that ultimately the opposition camp was powerless to stop the measure becoming law. |
| Masaaki Yamazaki, the president of the upper house, said the bills were passed with 148 lawmakers voting in support and 90 against. | Masaaki Yamazaki, the president of the upper house, said the bills were passed with 148 lawmakers voting in support and 90 against. |
| More than 200 hours have been spent deliberating the legislation, the Japan Times reported, and its approval by parliament fulfils one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's long-held ambitions. | More than 200 hours have been spent deliberating the legislation, the Japan Times reported, and its approval by parliament fulfils one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's long-held ambitions. |
| On Thursday, opposition politicians tried to physically delay proceedings ahead of a committee vote on the bills. | 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 international conflicts except in cases of self-defence. | Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve international 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 prompted large public protests for months. | The bills prompted large public protests for months. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Speaking in parliament on Friday, Akira Gunji, of the opposition Democratic party, said: "We should not allow such a dangerous government to continue like this. | Speaking in parliament on Friday, Akira Gunji, of the opposition Democratic party, said: "We should not allow such a dangerous government to continue like this. |
| "Prime Minister Abe's security bill is a threat to our legal framework." | "Prime Minister Abe's security bill is a threat to our legal framework." |
| 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. |
| What kinds of military actions would the laws allow? | What kinds of military actions would the laws allow? |
| Critics have focused on what they say is ambiguity in how the principles of the legislation will be interpreted, and the possibility that future governments will interpret them more broadly. | Critics have focused on what they say is ambiguity in how the principles of the legislation will be interpreted, and the possibility that future governments will interpret them more broadly. |
| Are you in Japan? What is your reaction to this decision? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your views. | Are you in Japan? What is your reaction to this decision? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your views. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |