January 17, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira at a press conference in the Diet building on January 16 said, "There is no room at all for the JCP to cooperate with the 'Nippon Ishin no Kai' party regarding the issue of Japan's major arms buildup."

Koike explained that the JCP in the extraordinary Diet session last year worked together with the Ishin Party in a supra-partisan move in order to help victims of the former Unification Church. He added, "In this coming ordinary session, however, the main topic of debate will be on Japan's acquisition of enemy-strike capabilities and the major arms buildup."

Koike pointed out that the Ishin Party is a supporter of Japan's military expansion and possession of this preemptive missile strike capability and is also calling for the construction of more nuclear power plants. He said, "The stance of the Ishin Party is totally opposite to our stance."

Reporters asked Koike about his views on the cooperation between the Ishin Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan to oppose higher taxes associated with the government-proposed increase in military spending. Koike said, "Of course, our party is opposed to tax hikes. The root cause of that tax increase lies in the government move to strengthen Japan's military power." He cited an opinion poll published by Yomiuri Shimbun on January 16, "Regarding the government plan to allocate a military budget of 43 trillion yen over the next five years, 49% of respondents were opposed while 43% were in favor."

He said, "If the CDPJ accepts Japan's military expansion and the acquisition of the counterattack capability in coordination with the Ishin Party, it will seriously affect its relationship with our party. I'm worried that that may happen."

Past related article:
> Shii demands retraction of 'Ishin' party's proposal toward 'nuclear sharing' arrangement [March 3 & 4, 2022]