For nearly a year, Mr. Obuchi and his lieutenants have assiduously courted the New Komeito. Still, LDP officials feel that a stable governing structure can be realized only by formally bringing the New Komeito into the ruling alliance. Together, the LDP and the Liberal Party enjoy a comfortable majority in the powerful House of Representatives. Their partnership gives them the final say on the selection of the prime minister, enactment of the budget and ratification of treaties. But to facilitate prompt Diet action on nonbudgetary legislation important to Japan's economic recovery and security interests, the LDP needs allies to control the upper house as well.
Security policy is another.
The New Komeito has argued that ship inspections should be carried out on the basis of international agreements and practices, including a United Nations resolution. The LDP and the Liberal Party have insisted that such a requirement is not necessary. SDF inspections of suspicious vessels originally was included in a package of bills implementing the September 1997 U.S.-Japan defense operational guidelines. Now, it appears that the matter will be addressed later rather than sooner. On the Liberal Party's controversial electoral reform proposal, however, the LDP does not have much wiggle room.