Japanese Parliament Paves Way for Collective Self-Defense

Opposition lawmakers holding protest signs try to obstruct proceedings during a vote on government-sponsored security related bills in a Diet lower house special committee debate on national security in Tokyo on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. The committee voted to approve the bills with the support of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito. The bills will next be put to a vote in a Diet plenary session as early as July 16, after which they will be sent to the upper house. The bills, when enacted, will allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense. Many Japanese oppose this and see it as a reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution which denounces war.

Photos by Natsuki Sakai/AFLO

Japan's Lower House debates new security related bills

Japan's Lower House debates new security related bills

Japan's Lower House debates new security related bills

Japan's Lower House debates new security related bills