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2026 January 21 - 27 TOP3 [POLITICS]

CDPJ’s formation of Centrist Reform Alliance, act of betrayal to concerned citizens who worked together in citizens-opposition parties coalition

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), amid the sudden move toward the Lower House dissolution prior to a general election, abruptly formed a new party, the “Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA)”, with the “Komeito” party.

The Komeito has long promoted LDP politics. How far does the CRA, in which the Komeito participates, distance itself from LDP politics? The new party’s stance on the national security-related legislation makes this clear.

The CRA in its basic policies explicitly states that “the exercise of the right to self-defense for national defense under the security legislation in a ‘survival-threatening’ situation is constitutional.”

This legislation allows Japan to invoke the collective self-defense right in order to fight U.S.-led wars abroad, even when Japan is not under attack.

Given Prime Minister Takaichi’s assertion that a “Taiwan contingency” would constitute a survival-threatening situation for Japan, the potential use of the collective self-defense right is becoming an increasingly serious issue.

At this critical juncture, the CDPJ, which had been a key member of the “citizens-opposition parties coalition” and had opposed the security legislation, dissolved itself and founded a new party. The CDPJ is no longer an opponent of this legislation, also known as the war laws.

The CRA explains that it will not seek the retraction of the 2014 Cabinet decision that deemed Japan’s participation in collective self-defense to be constitutional. Furthermore, it endorses the construction of a new U.S. military base at Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa.

The new party also accepts the restart of nuclear power plants on the condition that “safety is reliably confirmed.” Regarding money and politics, it merely calls for tougher restrictions on donation recipients. In short, the CDPJ abandoned its previous policy of banning political donations from corporations and other monied interest groups.

The CDPJ turnabout is a betrayal of the concerned citizens who raised their voices together against the anti-people LDP politics.