A protester holding a placard takes part in a rally against Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security bill and his administration in front of the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, September 17, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

6. East Asian countries deeply concerned about Japan’s congress giving military freer hand to fight

On July 16, the lower house of Japan’s parliament passed legislation giving the country’s military limited power to fight in foreign conflicts. On Sept. 19, the legislation was passed in a vote by the upper house of Japan’s parliament. This is a major turning point in Japan’s policy since the end of World War II. It implies that Japan has abandoned its policy of purely defensive military force. Japan’s move deeply concerned its East Asian neighbor countries.