January 17, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on January 16 stated, “The JCP will take notice of what the new party “Centrist Reform Alliance” formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and “Komeito” party will champion and pursue together.”

At a press conference in the Diet building, Koike said that he is particularly focused on the new party’s stance toward the national security-related legislation (war laws) that allows Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense abroad.

He pointed out, “Komeito is the party that forced the security legislation through with the Liberal Democratic Party in 2015. On the other hand, the CDPJ criticized the legislation as unconstitutional and opposed Japan’s potential use of the collective self-defense right together with our party.”

He noted that, as the CDPJ has maintained its position to abolish the security legislation and restore constitutionalism for the past decade, the JCP has cooperated with the CDPJ in national elections. He added, “We will pay attention to what common ground the CDPJ finds with the Komeito.”