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Japan’s upper house is set to hold the final vote on bills to expand the role of the country’s military abroad.
The 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.
Politicians have first been voting on opposition censure motions brought in an attempt to delay the bills’ passage.
Mr Abe has already defeated a censure bill against him, but the opposition also plan to file a no-confidence vote in the lower house. That too is not expected to pass.
The bills have already passed through the government-dominated lower house.
On Thursday, opposition politicians tried to physically delay proceedings ahead of a committee vote on the bills.
Collective 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:
- when Japan is attacked, or when a close ally is attacked, and the result threatens Japan’s survival and poses a clear danger to people
- when there is no other appropriate means available to repel the attack and ensure Japan’s survival and protect its people
- use of force is restricted to a necessary minimum
The bills have prompted large public protests for months.
Image copyrightGetty ImagesThe 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.
Article nine of the constitution bans using war to settle international disputes.
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.
