Japan takes key step to passage of security bills despite protests

Opposition Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Hiroe Makiyama (green) climbs over other lawmakers who are guarding Yoshitada Konoike, chairman of the upper house special committee on security, before a vote at an upper house special committee session on security-related legislation at the parliament in Tokyo, Japan, September 17, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan took a step on Thursday towards enacting legislation for a policy shift that would allow troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two, part of the prime minister's agenda to loosen the limits of a pacifist constitution.

The security policy shift, which Abe says is vital to meet challenges such as a rising China, has sparked protests and sharply eroded his popular support.