Leaders of the Democratic Party of Japan and two minor parties agreed Wednesday to form a coalition government, laying the groundwork for the launch of the new administration on Sept. 16.
The agreement, however, papered over major rifts among the DPJ, Social Democratic Party and Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) on diplomatic and security policy, including the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces. The question now is how much influence the partnership will have on the DPJ's already incoherent foreign affairs strategy.
While major points of contention were left out, including specific mention of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, the agreement covered broad-based issues ranging from Japan's security alliance with the U.S. to curbing unemployment.