When the ruling Liberal Democratic Party negotiated and forged a new coalition with the Osaka-based Japan Innovation Party (JIP) last month, foreign media were quick to pull out labels in an attempt to introduce the then-opposition party to global readers. One news agency labeled the reformist party as ¡°right-leaning,¡± without explaining any of their platforms, which The Japan Times also published.
It is an inaccurate label. While the JIP calls for a more muscular military posture to defend against China ¡ª as do many other parties, including the LDP ¡ª the party also promises free high school education, universal basic income and protection of LGBTQ+ rights. Those policies are rather liberal, or even arguably progressive, in a Western context.
Confusing? Indeed.
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