Military Role Dispute Sparks Ruckus in Japan’s Parliament
Long-simmering divisions over the role of Japan’s military caused a melee in Parliament on Wednesday as lawmakers moved toward approval of a measure that would allow the first dispatch of Japanese ground troops abroad since World War II.
Debate over the bill, only days before the 50th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, underscored the emotion in Japan over any action reminiscent of the militarism that led to the nation’s disastrous defeat in World War II.
Wednesday’s melee erupted when Yoshiro Hayashi, chairman of a special House committee writing the bill, unexpectedly decided to break off weeks of discussion and announce a committee vote on the measure, which would set up a United Nations-affiliated peacekeeping corps.
Enraged opposition lawmakers charged forward, shouting and frantically grabbing for the microphone. Hayashi, ringed by security guards, managed to call on a majority of 50 committee members to approve the measure.
No one was injured.
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