A package of seven security-related bills to augment the war-contingency legislation enacted last year cleared the House of Representatives on Thursday and is expected to be endorsed next month.
The package, backed by the ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan, was sent to the House of Councilors and is expected to be approved before the current Diet session adjourns.
The Lower House approval came after the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, amended the bills to accommodate the DPJ's demand that the government be required to obtain Diet approval of any evacuation plan drawn up in response to a large-scale terrorist attack. The government would be required to get the approval within 20 days of the plan's implementation.