generics: problem with method type parameter used in static context

Compilation of the joined source java file, shows problems when using a
type parameter
in a static constant declaration.
I expected the compiler to reject such declarations.


interface If<T>
{
static final If<T> C0 = null;
}

class Cl1<T> implements If<T>
{
static final If<T> C1 = null;
If<T> f1()
{
If<T> c1 = C0; // incompatible types found: If<T> required: If<T>
If<T> c2 = C1;
return C0; // incompatible types found: If<T> required: If<T>
}
}

class Cl2<T> extends C1<T>
{
static final If<T> C2 = new Cl2<T>();
// non-static class T cannot be referenced from a static context
// but why can class T be referenced in the type declaration ?
If<T> f2()
{
If<T> c1 = C0; // incompatible types found: If<T> required: If<T>
If<T> c2 = C2;
return C1; // incompatible types found: If<T> required: If<T>
}
}