EDITORIAL | Voters Deserve Debate That Tackles a Range of Policy Issues

The Japan National Press Club hosted a debate among leaders of Japan's political parties on Saturday, October 12. This came days ahead of the October 15 start of the election campaign for Lower House members of the Diet.

In the recently concluded extraordinary session of the Diet, there was a strong focus on "political money." In contrast, the October 12 party leaders' forum considered various other domestic and foreign policy issues. That made it particularly meaningful. 

The issues of political money must be thoroughly addressed to restore trust in politics. Nevertheless, other matters cannot be set aside. It is essential for politicians to spell out the policies they would pursue for the actual running of national affairs. That is the basis on which voters will make their choices when they go to the polls. 

A Concerning Perception Gap

However, there were some scenes during the forum that were difficult to comprehend. 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba responded to criticism of the lack of opportunity for debate before the dissolution of the Diet. He said: "It would be irresponsible if I did not provide the voters with the proper information to make their own judgment. So I did my best to answer in my own words." 

However, it was Ishiba who put off meetings of the Budget Committee to a later date. That action abbreviated the opportunity for debate. Therefore, the Prime Minister's take on the situation is removed from that of the general public.

Strange Exchange on the Issue of Ukraine

The Prime Minister also raised the issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He asked Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), why he thought deterrence had failed to prevent the conflict. 

In response, Noda mentioned the absence of United States President Joe Biden from ASEAN-related summits. Then he added, "Diplomatic efforts, such as urging the US to attend international conferences, are more important." 

Here, Noda displayed an irresponsible attitude. He failed to directly address the failure of deterrence.

Inconsistent Tax Policies

Another issue on the party leaders' agenda was the CDP's proposal for "tax credit with benefits." Here, leaders of the other parties quickly pointed to the inconsistency with the CDP's past positions. 

This idea was also discussed when Noda was prime minister from 2011 to 2012. At the time, Noda headed the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan. His finance minister, Jun Azumi, said such a measure would be "difficult" because of the flood of applications for tax credits it would likely generate. In the October 12 debate, however, Noda was unable to provide a consistent explanation. 

Noda also  said he would "continue dialogue" regarding cooperation between opposition parties. Nonetheless, it seems odd that he did not clarify the coalition framework he envisions developing after the October 27 election.

What is Ishiba Really Thinking?

Prime Minister Ishiba made some vague statements regarding security policy. When asked whether the Asian NATO idea he had in mind would include China, he answered, "It (his idea) doesn't rule out any possibilities." 

Yet it would require China to transform itself into a nation that could be a member of such a defensive grouping. If that happened, would there be any need for such an Asian NATO in the first place?

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, raised the issue of constitutional reform. He urged early adoption of an amendment to ensure that the Diet functions in the event of a large-scale disaster or other emergency. Unfortunately, on that issue, the discussion did not delve any deeper. 

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun