Legislation that could result in Japan having an expanded military role, passed the lower house of Japan's parliament on Thursday after public protests and scuffles in the normally pallid chamber.
The passing of this bill would mean that Japanese troops could fight abroad for the first time since World War II, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The vote came one day after Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc, who control more than two-thirds of the lower house, forced the bills through a committee despite protests both inside and outside parliament.
On Thursday, hundreds of protesters outsidide the building chanted anti-war and anti-Abe slogans during the debate and vote, some holding banners reading, "No to war legislation!"
Abe believes that Japan, which adopted a U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution after its defeat in World War II, needs to be able to come to the aid of allies, particularly America, in what he calls "collective self-defense", according to U.S. News & World Report.
He says the military's role should be strengthened to counter China's growing presence in the region, contribute to international peacekeeping and to prepare for new worldy threats (such as terrorist attacks).
"The legislation is absolutely necessary in order to protect the lives of the Japanese people and prevent the risk of war," Abe told reporters after the vote. "The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly harsh."
Opponents, including lawmakers, legal experts and academics believe that the new interpretation is unconstitutional.
Long accostomed to being a pacifist nation, about 80 percent of Japanese also oppose the bill, and the majority of them think the legislation is unconstitutional as well, AP reports.
The legislation now moves to the upper chamber of parliament - where Abe's coalition also has a majority - for further debate and a vote within 60 days.
At this point, however, it's unlikely that the bill wont pass.
If the upper house votes down the legislation or fails to vote within 60 days, then it would be sent to back to the lower house for a final ruling. At that point, if two-thirds of attending members in the lower house agree then the bill would be enacted and as it was previously stated: Abe's ruling bloc already has more than two-thirds majority in the lower house.
"The opposition could still possibly stop the bills. However, the government can still override a veto with its crushing majority in the lower house," said Koichi Nakano, a professor of Japanese politics at of Sophia University, according to the Los Angeles TImes. Still, he said, that would "likely be a very unpopular move - as opposition rises - and therefore a scenario that the government would rather avoid."
