China has criticized Japanese lawmakers for approving a series of contentious security bills that would allow the Japanese military to fight abroad after about seven decades of pursuing a pacifist self-defensive path.  

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, who described the passage of the bills as "unprecedented," said on Saturday that the move forces observers to question if Japan is going to abandon its defensive policy and path of peaceful development.

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The new law sanctions the Japanese military to undertake collective self-defense and engage in battle on foreign soil to defend an ally.

There have been large scale protests across Japan as lawmakers in the country's Upper House debated the security bills this week. Even as lawmakers voted on the bills on Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered outside the Diet building chanting slogans and waving placards in the air. Despite efforts from the opposition to delay the vote, lawmakers approved the law. Up to 148 lawmakers voted in favor of the bills and 90 opposed them.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has explained that passing the security bills will allow Japan deal with new threats it faces. After the bills were approved, Abe told reporters that the laws are meant to protect peace and prevent wars. Some critics say Japan's latest security bills are meant to counteract China's dominance in the region.

Many opponents of the bills fear that Japan will be forced to collaborate with the U.S. in a bid to combat threats to her allies and in the process get drawn into long and expensive wars.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government has welcomed the passage of the security bills in Japan. On Saturday, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario released a statement hailing the new legislation and the partnership between Manila and Tokyo. Experts say the new law favors countries like the Philippines, who would be able to count on the protection of Japanese forces.

The Philippines has been one of the most vocal opponents of China's expansion in the disputed South China Sea region. Recently, there were speculations that Japan is planning to support the Philippines' South China Sea cause by giving the nation three reconnaissance airplanes - most likely the Beechcraft TC-90 King Air. Under the terms of the new law, Japan can actually do more to help the Philippines.

The new legislation needs to be approved by Japan's Supreme Court. Many opponents of the bills are hoping that they would be thrown out by the court.

"We solemnly urge the Japanese side to learn hard lessons from history, pay heed to the call of justice from home and abroad, take seriously the security concerns of its Asian neighbors, stick to the path of peaceful development, act with discretion on military and security issues and do more to promote regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite," Hong said.

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