JAPAN’S government pushed through a draconian “anti-conspiracy” law yesterday that opponents say limits free speech and allows sweeping surveillance of ordinary citizens by the state.

To ram the Bill through parliament’s upper house Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition had to bypass the committee approval stage and shut down an ongoing debate over alleged corruption.

Mr Abe is accused of using his influence to help a friend’s company, Kake Gakuen, set up a veterinary school in Okayama, and critics say the government wanted to hasten the end of the parliamentary session to avoid continued discussion of the scandal.

The opposition Democratic, Communist, Social Democrat and Liberal parties moved a joint motion of no confidence in the cabinet on Wednesday night, stating there was “absolutely no way we can tolerate such a forcible attempt to pass the legislation.”

Japanese Communist Party Senator Yoshiki Yamashita said the unconventional manner in which the Bill was allowed to pass was “tantamount to the upper house committing suicide.”

The new law departs from a key plank of the Japanese justice system which holds that you cannot be punished for a crime you have not committed, since it criminalises the planning of 277 different offences.

The government says this is needed to fight terrorism.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it will play an “instrumental role” in protecting Japanese citizens ahead of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and rejected claims it would mean spying on ordinary people, saying only groups of two or more individuals engaged in concrete plans could be charged.

But Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii said it was “a serious violation of the constitution.”

Opponents have pointed out that the acts targeted by the legislation are not limited to terrorist offences but include stealing forestry products, pirating music and films and robbing graves.

Ministers faced ridicule after claiming this was to prevent the possibility of terrorist attacks being funded from the proceeds of stolen mushrooms.

Thousands protested outside the parliament as the Bill was debated and the opposition parties have pledged to do what they can to reverse its passage.