TOKYO (AP) - Japan's parliament on Monday passed guidelines for amending the country's pacifist constitution to give the military a larger global role. The vote marked a political victory for nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants to see Japan take more responsibility for global security. The legislation easily passed in parliament's Upper House with support of the ruling bloc's majority. The measure was approved last month by the Lower House.But the bill drew strong criticism from opposition lawmakers who say the legislation is flawed and aimed at boosting Abe's image before key elections in July. Abe, who is strengthening military cooperation with the United States and requiring schools to teach patriotism, has campaigned to loosen the constitution's limits on military action.
Monday's legislation sets up panels in both the lower and upper parliamentary houses to review drafts of proposed amendments. A national referendum is needed to amend the constitution, and the new legislation maps out how such a referendum would be carried out.
Recent polls show that support for an amendment is mixed. Many Japanese credit the charter's pacifist clause with keeping the country out of war since 1945, preventing a resurgence of wartime militarism and allowing Japan to focus on becoming wealthy.
Abe and supporters, however, argue that Japan needs to take more responsibility in maintaining global peace and security. The country dispatched troops on a humanitarian mission to Iraq in 2004-06, the first time since World War II that Japanese soldiers have entered a combat zone.