The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party have begun talks on forming a tripartite coalition government.
It is vital that partners in a coalition government reach a consensus over key policy issues before launching their administration. Any outstanding ambiguities will lead to serious problems in the future. Therefore, all three parties must be prepared to fully reconcile differences in their respective policies.
The DPJ won an unprecedented 308 seats in Sunday's House of Representatives election, even though it has fallen short of a single-party majority in the House of Councillors. The DPJ's move to forge a coalition with the SDP and the PNP apparently reflects its desire to run the nation in an even more stable manner.
Coalition governments formed in the recent past experienced confusion on a number of occasions, as a result of junior coalition partners sticking steadfastly to their own positions in the hope of making a greater impact within the government. The lesson to be learned from this is that making easy concessions to junior coalition partners must be avoided to ensure a coalition government works proficiently.
The SDP is demanding that a consultative body be established among participants in the DPJ-led government to review bills and other policies before they are finalized by the Cabinet. Admittedly, this kind of body has existed in the past. It is disturbing to recognize, however, that the establishment of such an organ would run counter to the DPJ's desire to ensure that the government is the sole organ in the decision-making process, instead of having ruling parties examine and approve its policies before being finalized as in the past.
Meanwhile, it is rumored that DPJ Acting President Ichiro Ozawa likely will be given an important post within the DPJ, instead of joining the Cabinet. If Ozawa has a strong clout in the envisaged government's decision-making process by taking advantage of his firm support base within the DPJ, it would amount to the reemergence of a dual power structure.
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Common policies
The coalition talks are based on "common policies" on six items--including a freeze on the consumption tax rate--that the three parties agreed upon prior to the lower house election.
However, the real issues to be thrashed out during the talks are foreign and security policies. These topics were not included in the common policies because the parties' respective stances are so different.
For example, the DPJ believes that Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels should continue their refueling mission in the Indian Ocean until January, but the SDP is demanding an immediate pullout.
In addition, the DPJ approves of the MSDF's antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia, while the SDP insists the Japan Coast Guard should replace the MSDF in carrying out the mission.
The refueling mission represents Japan's sole contribution of personnel to the international battle against terrorism, and the nation's efforts in this respect are highly appreciated by the countries concerned. We believe it is a matter of course that this mission continue, even after January.
Furthermore, it is unrealistic for the JCG to take the place of the MSDF in the antipiracy mission in light of differences in their respective equipment and backup systems.
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Wasted negotiations?
More disturbingly, both the DPJ and the SDP have advocated a review of the ongoing realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of the functions at U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Under a Japan-U.S. agreement, the transfer of the facility to the shores of Camp Schwab in Nago, would take place five years from now.
If this planned transfer is canceled, 13 years of bilateral efforts will come to naught, and the return of the air station site to Japan will be deferred. This means a plan to relocate 8,000 marines deployed in the prefecture to Guam--a measure aimed at alleviating burdens on people in the prefecture--would be scrapped.
It is completely understandable that a U.S. State Department spokesman on Monday said Washington will never renegotiate the relocation plan.
In the world of diplomacy, it is not possible under normal circumstances for one nation's desires to be completely realized. The DPJ should know better than to abandon flexibility and reduce its options in dealing with diplomatic issues, because it wants to stick to the assertions it made that were critical of the government during its days as an opposition party
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2009)
(Sep. 3, 2009)
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