Japan has moved away from their stance of post-World War II pacifism by voting to end the ban on troops fighting on foreign soil.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been pushing for the easing of the rules on the military, allowing the nation to now provide support to an ally who is coming under attack.  The move has been criticized by Chinese officials and is not popular with many Japanese voters.

“There is no change in the general principle that we cannot send troops overseas,” Abe told a televised news conference.

The decision has caused the largest protests in Toyko in decades.

Japanese officials say the move allows the nation to be more of an influence in the Asia/Pacific region.  The move was hailed by U.S. officials who want to see Japan become more of a player in the region’s politics.  The U.S. maintains a treaty to defend Japan if attacked.

“This decision is an important step for Japan as it seeks to make a greater contribution to regional and global peace and security,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement.  “The United States has an enduring interest in the Asia-Pacific’s peace and prosperity, and our alliance with Japan is critical to our strategy in the region.”

Analysts say that the move shows the growth of the nation since World War II.

“Japan is like the 42-year-old kid still living in the basement of the United States,” longtime Asia strategist Keith Henry told CNN.

“Conservative governments have pushed the envelope hard and often to get the public to agree to a more elastic interpretation of article 9 (which renounces war). Abe is taking a bigger leap and getting away with it, thanks to the Chinese,” Columbia University political science professor Gerry Curtis told Reuters.