Xinhua recently reported that the Japanese Cabinet decided to implement its new security law starting on March 29. The new law allows for Japan’s collective self-defense, which all generations of the Japanese government had banned since the end of the Second World War. The new law also allows the Japanese military to deploy globally for certain missions. Last year, the ruling coalition forcefully passed the new law, ignoring the Japanese people’s strong opposition. The new law is considered a major milestone which represents a significant military policy change from “peaceful self-defense” to active global participation in military activities. According to the new law, as long as the United States, as a treaty-binding ally, makes the request, Japan can legally send troops overseas to offer help to the U.S. The right of collective self-defense was widely thought to be against the Japanese Constitution, since it allows the use of military power without Japan being attacked directly.
Source: Xinhua, March 22, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2016-03/22/c_1118404253.htm