The Lower House on Friday began deliberating the government's special antiterrorism bill for extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
It also kicked off debate on another contentious bill that would allow SDF troops to be dispatched for support activities in Afghanistan. The bill is sponsored by the Democratic Party of Japan.
The opposition-controlled Upper House is set to reject the MSDF bill, but the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc is expected to force its passage by holding a rare second vote in the Lower House, where it holds a two-thirds majority.
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