China says Japan security law ‘threat’ to regional peace

This handout photo provided by the Office of the Defense Secretary, taken Aug. 19, 2014, shows a Chinese fighter jet that the Obama administration said Friday conducted a “dangerous intercept” of a US Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft off the coast of China in international airspace. China, which has been rapidly expanding its military and scope of operation, says Japan is threatening peace by allowing its forces to defend its allies. AP

TOKYO, Japan — China accused Japan of threatening regional peace Saturday after Tokyo passed laws clearing Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War II, saying that its rival should learn “profound lessons from history”.

Japan’s ruling coalition, led by nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, pushed the laws through in the early hours of Saturday morning after days of tortuous debate that at times descended into physical scuffles in parliament.

For the first time in 70 years, the new laws will give the government the power to send the military into overseas conflicts to defend allies, even if Japan itself is not under attack.

China’s defense ministry said Saturday the reforms had “aroused grave concern among its own citizens, Asian neighboring countries and the international society,” state media reported.

A Xinhua editorial added that Japan’s new security bills “not only broke Japan’s promise to the world after World War II, but also betrayed its own people”.

Japan’s nationalist premier has argued the laws are necessary to protect against threats from what it views as an increasingly belligerent China and unstable North Korea, but opponents fear the vague wording could see Japan dragged into far-flung foreign wars.