The national convention of the Japan Communist Party is expected to approve a proposal in November to revise its charter in order to tolerate the mobilization of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in a military emergency. The policy turnaround to match the party's basic stance to reality was long overdue. In curious contradiction, however, the JCP still insists that the SDF is unconstitutional.
The question is: Does the JCP recognize the SDF even if it is unconstitutional? The policy change was made apparently to gloss over the perception gap regarding the SDF between the party leadership and local officials. The problem is reminiscent of policy mistakes made by the defunct Japan Socialist Party under Chairman Tomiichi Murayama, who became prime minister of a coalition government made up of the Liberal Democratic Party, the JSP and New Party Sakigake.
To preserve the coalition government, Murayama contravened the JSP's basic policy stance of not recognizing the SDF. First, Murayama pronounced that the SDF was constitutional, a declaration that was welcomed by most Japanese. Second, Murayama expressed strong support for the Japan-U.S. security system, reportedly under strong political pressure as a condition for keeping the coalition government alive.