Japan's Cabinet has approved a set of controversial defense bills that will allow its military,... under specific circumstances,... to go beyond its self-defense stance and fight overseas if a close ally comes under attack.<br />Defending the move to break away from his country's decades-old pacifist constitution,... Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the new defense policy would deter threats and secure world peace.<br />Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Abe stressed that forging a permanent law would allow the government to dispatch its self-defense forces without delay.<br />The so-called "collective self-defense" doctrine has been under intense scrutiny from Korea and China.<br />Ahead of the Cabinet's approval, both countries warned Tokyo to exercise restraint and be transparent about its plans.<br />The revised bill,... which is widely expected to pass,... will be submitted to Japan's parliament later today.
