Japan lawmakers pass security bills despite public anger

The vote marks a victory for nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other right-wingers, who have ignored public anger in a bid to break what they see as the shackles of the US-imposed constitution.

They say restrictive clauses preventing Japan from having a fully-fledged military serves as a straigtjacket that stops Tokyo from doing what it must to protect its citizens and allies. Abe’s ruling coalition was left alone to vote after all main opposition parties walked out of the chamber in protest, a move intended to reflect widespread public fury over the legislation.

“The security situation surrounding Japan is increasingly severe,” Abe said after the vote, in an apparent reference to the rise of China.

“These bills are necessary to protect Japanese people’s lives and prevent a war from breaking out.” The vote came a day after as many as 60,000 people took part in a rally outside parliament, after the bills – which will give Japan’s tightly-restricted military greater scope to act – were pushed through a key lower house panel. There were scuffles as police pushed protestors back, and two men in their 60s were arrested on suspicion of assaulting officers.