Japanese politicians scuffle during ‘war’ debate

Japanese ruling and opposition politicians scuffle at the upper houses ad hoc committee session for controversial security bills yesterday. Picture: AFP/Getty

Opposition lawmakers surged toward the chairman’s seat as they realised something was amiss after ruling party legislators had gathered at the podium to protect him.

As the scrum intensified, ruling party lawmakers still in their seats stood up to signal their support for the legislation, though there didn’t appear to be an audible announcement of what they were voting on.

The legislative standoff is the latest development in a years-long national debate about the way Japan uses its military, a central question for the country since its armed forces were defeated in World War II seven decades ago.

The bills would ease restrictions on what the military can do, a highly sensitive issue in a country where many take pride in the postwar pacifist constitution.

A senior opposition member later said his party would not accept the vote because the ruling bloc had cheated.

“You saw the scene. We do not recognise there was a vote. How can you tell what happened, what the chairman was calling?” said Tetsuro Fukuyama, committee leader for the Democratic Party of Japan.

If the vote stands, the legislation will go to the upper house of parliament for final approval. The bills were passed by the more powerful lower house in July.

“Although it was unfortunate that the bills had to be approved this way, they are absolutely needed in order to protect the lives and happiness of the people,” Masahisa Sato, a member of the committee for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told public broadcaster NHK shortly after the vote. “We are relieved. Now we will do our utmost for approval of the bills in a house vote.”

The ruling party’s ploy ended nearly 24 hours of delaying tactics by the opposition, which plans more when the full upper house takes up the bills.

Before the vote, opposition lawmakers had introduced a no-confidence motion against the committee chairman, who earlier had tried to force the meeting to start.

Despite the delays, the bills are likely to be passed eventually because Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc has a majority in the upper house.

The legislation would allow the military to defend Japan’s allies even when the country isn’t under attack, work more closely with the US and other allies, and do more in international peacekeeping.

Abe says Japan needs the bills to bolster its defence amid China’s growing assertiveness and to share global peacekeeping efforts.