In May, Abe’s government introduced a package of bills to parliament that would allow Japan's military forces to be deployed in an offensive posture in foreign lands for the first time since World War II. The legislation was approved by the lower house of parliament, as well a special panel in the upper house. The ruling block is scheduled to vote on the bill later on Friday.
The opposition parties, with no majority in parliament, cannot ban the adoption of the law, but have long tried to prevent or postpone it. The opposition claims the new bills violate the Japanese post-war peace-oriented constitution. Polls show that a majority of Japanese are against the move.
Earlier this week, a poll for Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper revealed that almost 70 percent of respondents opposed allowing the legality of using the Japanese military abroad in potentially aggressive foreign policies.
On Thursday, thousands of people protested against the controversial bills, with at least 13 arrested over alleged interference in police duty.
