Thousands of protesters blast Japan security bills
Thousands of Japanese demonstrators have held a mass rally in the capital, Tokyo, to protest against the passing of controversial security bills that grant the army a wider military role.
On Saturday, protesters gathered outside the parliament to voice their anger against the new defense and security bills.
Opponents to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration have expressed serious concern that the new bills will undermine seventy years of pacifism.
Japan has been bound by a pacifist constitution since the end of World War II in 1945.
The opponents also argue that the security bills will pave the way for Japan to go to war and could see Japanese soldiers fighting abroad for the first time since World War II.
Abe has come to the defense of the bills, saying the passage was in line with Japan's national security policy.
The Japanese premier has been under fire following his move to push through the controversial bills in the lower house of parliament on July 16.
"We want more Japanese to know what's happening and lower Abe cabinet’s approval rating. If it falls to the 20 percent level, he would probably think he's at risk and the bills might fail to pass in the upper house," a protester said.
Also on Friday, a demonstration was held outside the prime minister’s office.
There has been a huge opposition against the bills from civil rights activists and academics as well, with some describing the bills as unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, China and South Korea have reacted to the move, with Seoul urging Japan to "contribute to regional peace and security" and calling for transparency in Japan's defense policy discussions. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying has also urged Tokyo to "stick to the path of peaceful development" and avoid harming the region's stability.
Japan occupied large parts of China and the Korean Peninsula during World War II.
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