First time meeting the old intern boss in years! Glad my @asianstudiesgu friends could join me for this extraordinary opportunity to talk to LDP policy chief Hagiuda. He gave us some insight into his thoughts on Ukraine, defense, and GX.

Lin also proposed elevating Japan-Taiwan ties to a mutually complementary "comprehensive partnership" and cooperating in joint investments in third country markets. He indicated hope for Japan to support Taiwan's accession to CPTPP. He discussed EPA talks with Japan.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told Sankei in an interview that Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines (first island chain) must form a new security framework to defend against Chinese military threats. https://t.co/B1vPi3XVtS

LDP Secretary General Suzuki Shunichi indicated yesterday that the LDP-Komeito election cooperation agreement in Hokkaido 4th district will go back to the drawing board after the end of the coalition. Talks will continue but reset for now. https://t.co/JcIAsTazDc

Japan sent Amb. to Egypt Iwai Fumio to the summit-level meeting on peace in Gaza hosted by President Trump yesterday. Japan was the only G7 country that did not send a leader to the meeting, likely due to chaos from end to LDP-Komeito coalition. https://t.co/CCvWeCHizX

Some key meetings today: - CDP-Ishin-DPFP secretary general meeting (today PM) - LDP-DPFP secretary general meeting (PM hours) - DPFP-Komeito secretary general meeting (TBD) https://t.co/DgZXznOfvO

Suzuki added that, "there are parties whose fundamental policies align with the LDP. We want to focus on these parties (by collaborating with them) to restore political stability and build a system capable of addressing domestic and international challenges."

Suzuki stated at a press conference that "even if groups with differing fundamental policies come together to form something numerically, the problems will persist indefinitely," seemingly pointing at the opposition moves to form a united front. https://t.co/SZNwIbgP2P

LDP Secretary General Suzuki Shunichi visited his home prefecture of Iwate yesterday and stated that local cooperation with Komeito is expected to continue, despite the end to the coalition arrangement at the national level. https://t.co/kASTF0OPI8

Q: Political landscape going forward? A: Political realignment is necessary, and it seems inevitable. The era of the LDP's dominance is over. As multiparty politics advances, we must establish new rules and protocols for governing.

(Cont.) ... — which includes abolishing the provisional gasoline tax rate and raising the income tax exemption threshold known as the “annual income wall” — will be upheld. If upheld, it will foster trust and broaden the scope for cooperation.

Q: How to engage with LDP? A: While our fundamental policies on security and energy are remarkably similar, the crucial question is whether the agreement between the LDP, Komeito, and the DPFP...

(Cont.) The CDP, which includes lawmakers from the left to the conservative, fears a split within its ranks and continues to keep its basic policies vague. This approach prevents it from becoming a viable alternative to the LDP.

(Cont.) When PM Ishiba asked Noda during a July party leader debate “which parts of the security-related laws are unconstitutional and why,” he failed to specify the unconstitutional elements. Seeing that, I concluded that the CDP has no intention of assuming power.

(Cont.) Amid an increasingly severe security environment, the CDP has merely criticized security-related laws as “unconstitutional” without deepening the debate.

Q: Compromise on security policy? A: The security field, directly tied to the lives and property of the people, is not a matter of “concession” or “non-concession”; as a nation, there must be not the slightest wavering.

(Cont.) The policy agreement reached via RENGO does not mention whatsoever the security-related laws or the utilization of nuclear power. It is clear that our party and the CDP have failed to reach agreement on these two crucial points.

(Cont.) However, the CDP calls for the “abolition of unconstitutional parts” of the security-related laws and also promotes a “zero nuclear power” policy.

Q: Noda says there is policy alignment with DPFP? A: We approve of the security-related laws and advocate for the active utilization of nuclear power plants.

(Cont.) We are seeking alignment on fundamental policies with other parties precisely because I am seriously considering becoming prime minister.

Q: Why repeat resolve to become PM? A: More people have come to misunderstand that DPFP is shirking its responsibility to seize power. We do not hold a majority on our own and must consult and cooperate with various parties.