Staff writer

New Komeito will not change its plan to launch coalition talks with the Liberal Democratic Party even if the LDP's junior partner, the Liberal Party, pulls out of the ruling alliance, New Komeito chief Takenori Kanzaki said Friday.

"Even if the Liberal Party leaves the coalition, our basic policy to join hands with the LDP will not change," Kanzaki said in an interview with The Japan Times, citing the decision reached at the party's July 24 convention.