Summary

Japan took a historic step away from its post-war pacifism Tuesday by ending a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since 1945, a victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe but a move that has riled China and worries many Japanese voters.

The change, the most dramatic shift in policy since Japan set up its post-war armed forces 60 years ago, will widen Japan’s military options by ending the ban on exercising “collective self-defense,” or aiding a friendly country under attack.

Abe repeated that stance Tuesday, while stressing Japan had to respond to an increasingly tough security environment.

Sunday, a man set himself on fire near a Tokyo intersection – a rare form of protest in Japan – after speaking out against Abe’s reviewing of Article 9 .

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2014/Jul-02/262355-japan-steps-away-from-postwar-pacifism.ashx#ixzz36GoTg616
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)