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Japan boosts its defence status Japan upgrades defence's status
(40 minutes later)
Japan's upper house of parliament has voted to upgrade the country's defence agency to a full ministry.Japan's upper house of parliament has voted to upgrade the country's defence agency to a full ministry.
It is the first time Japan will have a defence ministry since it was stripped of its right to have a military by the US after World War II. The move is part of new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to lift Japan's diplomatic presence and rethink its post-World War II role.
The move is seen as part of the government's wider aim to bolster the country's military status. The upper house also passed a bill that requires schools to teach patriotism in the classroom.
The bill now becomes law as it had already been passed by the powerful lower house. Both moves have caused unease among Japan's Asian neighbours, who remember Japanese militarism last century.
The bills now become law as they have already been passed by the powerful lower house.
Nationalism fears
Mr Abe earlier survived a no-confidence motion, which was brought by the opposition in a last ditch bid to halt the controversial education bill.
The bill calls on teachers to instil thinking among students "respecting tradition and culture and loving the nation and homeland."
Opponents are wary because Japan's military leaders used patriotism to justify the expansion which led in part to WWII, and they also fear a resurgence of Japanese nationalism.
Mr Abe says Japan's education system - unchanged since 1947 - has not done enough to address "moral values, ethics and self-discipline".
The vote to upgrade the defence agency passed with a majority and included support from the main opposition Democratic Party.
The upgrade, which will give the new ministry more status and budget control, is part of a wider shift to allow Japan a greater role in global military co-operation.
Japanese troops have begun participating in international military operations, including in Iraq.