February 10, 2014
The Democratic Party of Japan in its convention failed to differentiate itself from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party regarding key issues such as Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense.
The DPJ on February 9 held its convention in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, and adopted an action plan for 2014. President Kaieda Banri in his speech expressed his determination to “firmly confront the ruling LDP” and work to achieve major advances in the nationwide local elections next year.
However, the DPJ postponed drawing up policies on how to confront the LDP on major political issues, including national security, the restart of nuclear power plants, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo seeks to change the conventional interpretation of the Constitution in order to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. The DPJ previously announced that it will formulate its policy on this matter by the time of the party convention, but it was not presented at the convention. In a press conference after the convention, President Kaieda avoided clearly showing his opposition to the revision of the constitutional interpretation and just said that careful consideration is needed.
A number of senior DPJ Dietmembers, including former Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko and former Transport Minister Maehara Seiji, are in favor of the revision of the constitutional interpretation. The DPJ in its 2005 proposal on the Constitution argued that Japan should actively take part in U.N. collective security operations.
The DPJ on February 9 held its convention in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, and adopted an action plan for 2014. President Kaieda Banri in his speech expressed his determination to “firmly confront the ruling LDP” and work to achieve major advances in the nationwide local elections next year.
However, the DPJ postponed drawing up policies on how to confront the LDP on major political issues, including national security, the restart of nuclear power plants, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations.
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo seeks to change the conventional interpretation of the Constitution in order to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. The DPJ previously announced that it will formulate its policy on this matter by the time of the party convention, but it was not presented at the convention. In a press conference after the convention, President Kaieda avoided clearly showing his opposition to the revision of the constitutional interpretation and just said that careful consideration is needed.
A number of senior DPJ Dietmembers, including former Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko and former Transport Minister Maehara Seiji, are in favor of the revision of the constitutional interpretation. The DPJ in its 2005 proposal on the Constitution argued that Japan should actively take part in U.N. collective security operations.
