Japan paves way for military to be able to fight overseas

Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has announced the country's defence force will now be able to fight overseas - something it has not been able to do since 1945.

Under its constitution, Japan is barred from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence.

China - with whom Japan is currently engaged in a bitter territorial dispute - says it opposes the change, accusing Japan of "re-militarising" under Mr Abe.

The BBC's East Asia Editor Michael Bristow reports.