A recent survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun and the University of Tokyo reveals that among winners of the recent House of Representatives election in Japan, only candidates from the center and the Communist Party lean towards a partnership with China.
In the aftermath of Japan's recent House of Representatives election, which saw Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secure a supermajority, an analysis by Asahi Shimbun and the University of Tokyo sheds light on the stances of elected representatives regarding constitutional reform and foreign policy, particularly regarding China. The survey posed a question about the necessity of changing the current constitution, giving respondents multiple options, including a neutral 'can't say'. The analysis revealed that a significant majority of representatives from the LDP, Japan Innovation Party, Democratic Party for the People, and other pro-reform parties exhibited strong support for constitutional amendments, with over 90% of their members leaning toward the pro-amendment stance within their respective parties.
Meanwhile, the winners from the Center Reform Union and Team Mirai also leaned slightly towards pro-amendment, but only the Communist Party and the Reiwa Shinsengumi distinctly opposed constitutional changes. The overall average for all elected officials indicated a shift towards supporting amendments compared to the previous House of Representatives election in 2024, mirroring similar trends on the perspective on strengthening Japan's defense capabilities. The data suggests that while there is a strong consensus among many parties for reform, the opposition continues to champion a more pacifist stance regarding Japan's military policy.
