Japan's ruling coalition forced through a set of controversial security bills at a House of Councilors panel session on Thursday. This paves the way for the disputed legislation, which eases the restrictions on the rights to exercise collective self-defense, to be quickly passed at a plenary session of the Upper House.

All attempts by opposition lawmakers to curb the voting, such as scuffles, failed as the ruling bloc commands a majority. 

The security bills largely make Japan's pacifist constitution void. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe succeeded in steering clear of Article 9 of the Constitution. In this way, Japan's Self-Defense Forces are closer to a regular army as they cannot only defend Japan when it is under attack, but be dispatched on foreign missions even when Japan isn't in danger. In this sense, Japan is making big strides toward normalization and Abe has become Japan's strongest politician of recent years.

Japanese people's protests against the legislation are vocal. Away from war for 70 years, the bills indicate Japan may get actively involved in battles again. Apparently, Japanese society is not ready to face this.

Abe may not have anticipated such strong opposition, but for him there is no turning back. In the painful process of forcing through the security bills, Japanese society witnessed the most severe rifts in recent years. But Abe has no other choice since he would have to step down if the legislation is not approved.

The legislation comes at a time when the US and Japan feel anxious about China's rise and hope to strengthen their alliance. The security bills hence are complementary to the new US-Japan defense guidelines and are believed to strengthen the deterrence of the alliance against China.

However, as the US dominates the alliance, the landscape in the West Pacific primarily depends on the Sino-US relationship. Japan is in no position to alter the development of the era and the security bills are unable to threaten China.

The security legislation is one of Japan's moves to disturb the post-WWII system. Abe's persistence in pushing the bills through shows how strongly he and his colleagues wish to make Japan an independent political and military entity. If one day Japan becomes a military power, Abe then can be called the father of Japan's military rejuvenation.

Yet to achieve it, Japan has to drive US troops out of its territory, which will be a dreadful step for Tokyo. Until then, Japan will remain a puppet state of the US. China is unable to affect Japan's choice. We can counter this by developing a more powerful military to withstand Japan's provocation.