The ruling and opposition parties are all promising to pay cash benefits to the public as part of their campaign pledges for the upcoming House of Representatives election, but they differ sharply in their stance on foreign and security policy.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito have both pledged measures to deal with the coronavirus from the perspective of balancing economic activities with infection control. The LDP has called for minimizing the number of deaths and cases of severe illness, saying there should be legal revisions to promote the use of oral medication by the end of this year and to control the flow of people when a state of emergency is declared.
It also laid out a roadmap for "living with COVID-19," and referred to using vaccination records and other means to ease restrictions on the number of people at events and on the size of groups dining out together.
Komeito also promised support for the development of domestically produced oral medicine for the virus.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan places priority on the thorough containment of infections. Although the CDPJ did not refer in its campaign pledges to "zero coronavirus" -- which it has been calling for -- it promised to implement stricter containment measures at ports and airports by requiring the "quarantine of all people entering the country for at least 10 days in hotels and other facilities."
To rebuild the battered economy, both the ruling and opposition blocs have touted the idea of redistributing wealth, in particular providing cash benefits.
Without specifying the amount, the LDP proposed financial support for nonregular employees, women, households raising children, and students. Komeito promised a uniform benefit of 100,000 yen for "people from infants through the third year of high school."
The opposition bloc has also proposed cash benefits, with the CDPJ suggesting 120,000 yen per year for low-income earners and the Democratic Party for the People suggesting a uniform payment of 100,000, yen with an additional 100,000 yen for low-income earners. The Japanese Communist Party promised "100,000 yen per person, including those in the middle class as a base, and a generous benefit for low-income earners."
The main opposition parties were also aligned on the issue of a consumption tax cut.
However, it remains unclear how they plan to finance the benefits. Although the parties cited the issuance of government bonds and other options, they have yet to come up with a clear growth strategy that would lead to an increase in tax revenue -- the source of funds for the distribution of wealth.
Regarding diplomacy and security, there are marked differences among the parties in how they plan to deal with China.
With China's military expansion in mind, the LDP has promised to "drastically strengthen Japan's defense capabilities" and went one step further to say that Japan will "acquire the capability to stop ballistic and other missiles even within other countries' territory."
This pledge envisages the ability to attack enemy bases, including destroying an enemy's missile launch base for self-defense.
In contrast, Komeito has not referred to China's military expansion or the strengthening of Japan's deterrence capabilities, putting importance on a friendly relationship with China.
Even among the opposition parties, there are arguments for strengthening Japan's deterrence capabilities, with the DPFP seeking an independent security system and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) pledging to consider establishing the capability to stop missiles in enemy territory.
The CDPJ said the party would "deal resolutely with China's provocations," but only said it would "carefully consider [the possession of the capability to attack enemy bases] in light of its interpretation of the Constitution."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
