Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has pushed a set of controversial security bills through a legislative committee, catching the opposition by surprise.

On Thursday, the bills were moved through the committee despite refusal by the opposition, which says it will not accept the vote, as it took place without their knowledge.

If the vote stands, the Japanese upper house of parliament will vote on the security bills for their final approval.

Earlier in the day, scuffles broke out between lawmakers who disagreed over the proposed bills aimed at allowing Japanese soldiers to fight abroad for the first time since World War II.

Leading up to the vote, opposition lawmakers introduced a no-confidence motion against the committee chairman, Yoshitada Konoike. Konoike had earlier triggered outrage among the opposition for trying to force the meeting to start.

Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered outside the parliament building, demanding the bills be scrapped.

The bills, which aim to increase Japan’s military influence, were ratified by the lower house of parliament on July 16.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and supporters argue that the bills are necessary to deal with a changing security environment and threats posed by regional countries that are expanding their military and nuclear capabilities.

Abe seeks to have the bills approved by Friday.

Opponents, however, say the bills threaten the country’s pacifist image and that the revisions will change Japan’s 1945 constitution, which prohibits Tokyo from combat except in self-defense.