Japanese lawmakers OK greater overseas role for military

ByWill Ripley, Jason Hanna and Eimi Yamamitsu, CNNUpdated 0046 GMT (0746 HKT) September 19, 2015

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North Korea takes on West with its own K-pop bandStory highlights Controversial bills pass, marking most dramatic shift in Japanese military policy in 70 years There was fierce opposition to bills that reinterpret Article 9 of the Japanese constitution Change will allow Japanese military to deploy overseas and engage in offensive military actionTokyo (CNN)Japan's upper chamber of Parliament early Saturday approved controversial bills allowing the country's military to engage in overseas combat in limited circumstances -- a major shift after seven decades of pacifism.The 148-90 vote was the final hurdle for the measures, which will go into effect within roughly the next six months. The lower parliamentary chamberpassed the bills in July.The legislation reinterprets Article 9 of the Japan's pacifist post-World War II constitution, which outlaws war as a means of settling international disputes. The reinterpretation will now allow the Japanese military, known as the Self-Defense Forces, to defend its allies in a limited role in conflicts abroad.Japanese troops operating overseas had previously been limited to humanitarian roles.Article 9 of Japan's constitution says, in part, "Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."

Why is Japan expanding its military?02:38The bills, championed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, sparked fierce and vocal opposition, with massive demonstrations in Tokyo streets in recent months and physical altercations in parliament this week.A scuffle broke out Thursday as opposition lawmakers in a special committee of the Upper House attempted to delay a vote. But the bill ultimately passed the committee, setting the stage for Saturday's vote.The argument for the billsSupporters of the legislation, including top U.S. officials, say Japan needs to expand the role of the SDF to counter potential threats from nations such as China and North Korea. Both continue to develop their military and nuclear weapons programs.Earlier this month, China staged its largest military parade ever to celebrate 70 years since Japan's World War II defeat. Beijing remains locked in territorial disputes with multiple Asian neighbors in the East and South China seas.On Tuesday, North Korea warned the United States and its allies that it isready to use nuclear weapons "at any time"and is expected to launch a new satellite using a long-range rocket sometime in the coming weeks.Tokyo has faced growing international pressure to expand the role of its military, including deployment, todefend the interests of its key allies, including the United States.America is bound by treaty to defend Japan, an agreement that has been in place since 1960.

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China.Hide Caption10 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese President Xi Jinping, in the middle, stands with (from left) South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and former Chinese presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.Hide Caption11 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square on September 3 in Beijing, China.Hide Caption12 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese President Xi Jinping, left, stands with former Chinese Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao and current Premier Li Keqiang at the military parade in Beijing on September 3.Hide Caption13 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryPeople's Liberation Army troops arrive at Tiananmen Gate in formation for the parade on September 3.Hide Caption14 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past Tiananmen Square on September 3.Hide Caption15 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryA Chinese military choir stands in position ahead of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3.Hide Caption16 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers conduct last-minute drills ahead of the military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3.Hide Caption17 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryDecorated with medals, 85-year-old Shen Ji-lan prepares for the military parade in Beijing. She is the only person in China to be appointed twelve consecutive times as a member of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, according to local media.Hide Caption18 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryA paramilitary policeman stands at attention in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 2, 2015.Hide Caption19 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese military helicopters fly in formation over Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. A massive military parade in Tiananmen Square marked the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II.Hide Caption1 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryA military vehicle carrying a Pterodactyl I drone rolled through Beijing on September 3.Hide Caption2 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryMilitary vehicles carry missiles past the Tiananmen Gate on September 3.Hide Caption3 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese President Xi Jinping stands in a sedan to address the People's Liberation Army on September 3.Hide Caption4 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryThousands of doves are released during the parade on September 3.Hide Caption5 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryTanks promenade through the parade route on September 3.Hide Caption6 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese veterans wave from a bus during the military parade on September 3.Hide Caption7 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese military helicopters fly in formation during the grand parade on September 3.Hide Caption8 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryMissiles are displayed along the parade route on September 3.Hide Caption9 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China.Hide Caption10 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese President Xi Jinping, in the middle, stands with (from left) South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and former Chinese presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.Hide Caption11 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square on September 3 in Beijing, China.Hide Caption12 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese President Xi Jinping, left, stands with former Chinese Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao and current Premier Li Keqiang at the military parade in Beijing on September 3.Hide Caption13 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryPeople's Liberation Army troops arrive at Tiananmen Gate in formation for the parade on September 3.Hide Caption14 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past Tiananmen Square on September 3.Hide Caption15 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryA Chinese military choir stands in position ahead of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3.Hide Caption16 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers conduct last-minute drills ahead of the military parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on September 3.Hide Caption17 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryDecorated with medals, 85-year-old Shen Ji-lan prepares for the military parade in Beijing. She is the only person in China to be appointed twelve consecutive times as a member of the National People's Congress, China's legislature, according to local media.Hide Caption18 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryA paramilitary policeman stands at attention in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 2, 2015.Hide Caption19 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese military helicopters fly in formation over Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China. A massive military parade in Tiananmen Square marked the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II.Hide Caption1 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryA military vehicle carrying a Pterodactyl I drone rolled through Beijing on September 3.Hide Caption2 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryMilitary vehicles carry missiles past the Tiananmen Gate on September 3.Hide Caption3 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese President Xi Jinping stands in a sedan to address the People's Liberation Army on September 3.Hide Caption4 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryThousands of doves are released during the parade on September 3.Hide Caption5 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryTanks promenade through the parade route on September 3.Hide Caption6 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese veterans wave from a bus during the military parade on September 3.Hide Caption7 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese military helicopters fly in formation during the grand parade on September 3.Hide Caption8 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryMissiles are displayed along the parade route on September 3.Hide Caption9 of 19

19 photos:China celebrates World War II victoryChinese soldiers march past the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 in Beijing, China.Hide Caption10 of 19

"Japan is like the 42-year-old kid still living in the basement of the United States," said longtime Asia strategist Keith Henry.Henry's Tokyo-based consulting firm, Asia Strategy, provides governmental policy analysis. Henry likens the defense bills to Japan finally "growing up" and moving beyond vague concepts of peace and democracy that are no longer practical given today's rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.Henry says Japan is assuming a more proactive role in regional security, in part to offset China's growing military might."Japan is moving out of the house of the U.S. that was essentially built after World War II," Henry said. "But there are risks involved in protecting one's national self interests."The argument against

Japanese lawmakers get physical01:01Those potential risks have triggered outrage on the streets of Tokyo. Opponents of the legislation say seven decades of Japanese postwar pacifism are simply being tossed away without proper public debate or discourse. They worry about the consequences of potentially sending troops into battle without actual combat experience.Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators have been gathering in recent weeks outside the Japanese Parliament building -- the largest demonstrations of their kind in Japan in more than 50 years. They are students and teachers, workers and retirees, grandchildren and grandparents.Some wear work attire or school uniforms. Others have T-shirts, bandanas, or posters with spirited slogans like "No war! No Abe!" -- a message to the Prime Minister, who has grown increasingly unpopular in recent months for doggedly pushing the controversial security bills through parliament.OPINION: Japanese PM comes up short on WWII history and contritionAbe's face appears on posters with a Hitler-style mustache and Nazi swastika drawn on his forehead. The symbolism is clear. Some of these demonstrators view their Prime Minister as a dictator.

Civic group members hold placards during an anti-government rally in Tokyo on August 23, 2015.Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party and Abe's political opponent, used a loudspeaker to rev up the crowd on Monday evening."We fight, fight and fight through it! And abolish these unconstitutional security bills," Shii shouted as the crowd cheered.Hidenori Shida, a 65-year old IT engineer, said he's frightened by the idea that a Japanese bullet might someday kill someone overseas."Japan is a country which pledged not to fight a war again," he said. "We have killed no one in the (past) 70 years. This bill is unforgivable."

Japanese WWII 'Zero' pilot reflects on life and war03:36Sweeping government powers?While the security legislation may strengthen Japan's ties with its allies, Koichi Nakano, a professor at Sophia University, warns it also gives "very sweeping powers to the government," which could allow logistic support and assistance to allied countries during wartime.He said that Abe's administration has rushed discussion of the security legislation, and that the public "demand(s) the government to slow down so that people get a better understanding of what is happening."Opposition to the move is clearly evident in opinion polls.A recent pollcarried out by Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun indicated that 54% of respondents opposed the legislation, while 29% supported the bills. Three-quarters of respondents said parliamentary debate on security bills has been insufficient.