Draft laws to increase powers of military approved by committee
A committee of Japan's lower house passed controversial security bills aimed at beefing up the role of Japan's military on Wednesday, despite domestic opposition and concern among neighboring countries.
The approvals, after a vote sought by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc, paved the way for a lower house vote, probably on Thursday. If passed, the bills would then be debated in the upper house. The ruling bloc dominates both houses of the Diet, Japan's legislature.
Observers said that if the bills become law, it would mark a historic shift for the officially pacifist nation, and such a move would require vigilance from Japan's neighbors including China and South Korea.
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