Japan's upper house of parliament approved a controversial security bill that would allow it to engage in defensive military action overseas in the event that the national security of its allies is severely threatened.
For the first time since the end of World War II, Japanese troops can deploy in overseas operations in a combat role in support of its allies; in other words, for collective self-defens
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempts to explain the change to domestic and international audiences have not gone smoothly.
He has faced opposition at home, with fist fights breaking out between lawmakers debating the bill.
In the wider region, China, which Japan perceives to be one of its greatest security threats, has raised the specter of a less-restrained Japan with possible nuclear weapons ambitions. China itself has nuclear weapons, making its first test 1964.