On Japan-U.S. summit talks: JCP Shii

   Concerning the Japan-U.S. summit talks held on November 16 in Washington D.C., Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 17 issued the following statement:

   Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo and U.S. President George W. Bush in their talks agreed that the Japan-U.S. alliance is “vital for peace and security” and that the two countries will “play an indispensable role” in addressing global issues.

   Prime Minister Fukuda pledged that he will “make utmost efforts for early enactment” of an anti-terrorism special measures bill to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force refueling mission which public opposition helped shut down.

   The JCP discussion in the Diet has exposed that this bill is intended to allow Japan to assist in the war of retaliation, that this bill will do more harm than good in eradicating terrorism, and that the Japanese defense organization which is responsible for the enforcement of the law is being deeply tainted with scandals.

   By ignoring these problems, the prime minister, under strong pressure from the U.S., promised the early enactment of the bill, thus putting on display the deep subservience of the Japanese government to the U.S. We strongly denounce this act.

   Joining forces with the opposition of the public, the JCP will make every effort to defeat the bill.

   Prime Minister Fukuda also pledged that “in order to strengthen deterrence” he will steadily implement the Japan-U.S. agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

   However, the U.S. military realignment based on the U.S. preemptive attack strategy is to radically change the Japan-U.S. military alliance into an alliance capable of carrying out aggression, extend and strengthen it as a global alliance, and press ahead with strengthening functions of U.S. bases in Japan and the Self-Defense Forces’ overseas deployment operations.

   It is unacceptable for the government to forcibly implement the realignment plan by trampling on the opposition of a wide range of the public, including the municipalities and their residents that will be adversely affected by the realignment.

   The JCP will block the government from using three trillion yen of tax money for the lawless U.S military realignment coupled with the struggle against the extension of a special agreement on the payment of expenses for the U.S. forces in Japan called the “considerate budget.” The JCP will make efforts to force the government to give up on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
  - Akahata, November 18, 2007