JAPAN-SECURITY/MILITARY-FILE Japanese Self Defense Forces file

Record ID: 146905

  • Title: JAPAN-SECURITY/MILITARY-FILE Japanese Self Defense Forces file
  • Date: 16th July 2015
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - JUNE 25, 2004) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF SEND-OFF CEREMONY FOR JAPANESE TROOPS TO BE SENT TO IRAQ TROOPS LINING UP WHILE JAPANESE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED VARIOUS OF TROOPS MARCHING TROOPS GETTING ON BUS FAMILIES WAVING TROOPS WAVING FROM BUS, LEAVING A send-off ceremony for about 90 members of the self-defence fo
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9FWP9LL0JVBHZ636725KKDRWL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday (July 16) pushed through legislation in the lower house of parliament that could see troops sent to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two, despite thousands of protesters overnight chanting and holding up placards reading "No War, No Killing" outside.
    A lower house panel approval on Wednesday (July 15) of the unpopular bills, which would drop a ban on collective self-defence or fighting to defend a friendly country like the United States, sparked a huge demonstration and more are planned.
    The protest was reminiscent of those that toppled Abe's grandfather from the premiership 55 years ago after he rammed a revised U.S.-Japan security pact through parliament.
    Crowds of protesters - organisers said 100,000 - gathered near parliament. Many stayed well into the night, chanting and holding up placards reading "Abe, quit", "No War, No Killing" and "Scrap the War Bills". A smaller number braved adverse weather to continue their protest on Thursday.
    The bills will now go to the upper house, and if no vote is taken after 60 days they will be returned to the lower house, where Abe's coalition can enact them with a two-thirds majority.
    Abe says a bolder security stance, welcomed by ally Washington, is essential to meet new challenges, such as those from a rising China.
    The changes expand the scope for Japan's military to also provide logistics support to friendly countries, relax limits on peace-keeping operations and make it easier to respond to "grey zone" incidents falling short of war.
    Opponents say the revisions could entangle Japan in U.S.-led conflicts around the globe and violate pacifist Article Nine of the U.S-drafted, post-war constitution.
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