Is Japan about to find its international voice again?

New defence laws

 

 

 

Tokyo

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe (pictured) has pushed through laws, in the teeth of fierce public opposition, which would allow the country’s troops to fight overseas for the first time since the Second World War. The measures, which critics say mark a dangerous step towards ending Japan’s postwar pacifist constitution, have yet to be approved by the upper house, but are likely to become law by the end of September. Earlier this month some 60,000 people demonstrated against the laws, in the biggest rallies seen in Japan since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. There were also rare scenes of physical confrontation in Japan’s parliament, the Diet, as opposition MPs – chanting “no war” and waving anti-Abe placards – tried to stop the chairman of the parliamentary committee approving the legislation.

Source: The Week

It seems both Japan and Germany are trying to find their feet again on the international stage. I hope Japan gets it right as its going to need to play a big and active role in its locality in the not too distant future.

Of further note is the fact the Japanese population fell by 250,000 last year. Yet another huge fall.