JCP Chair Shii holds talks with U.S. Ambassador Roos

Japan Press Weekly

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JCP Chair Shii holds talks with U.S. Ambassador Roos

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on April 21 held talks with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

Shii explained to Roos the JCP stance on the nuclear weapons issue and on the Japan-U.S. relations, and they exchanged their views on these issues.

For success of NPT Review Conference

Shii said that he will attend the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference scheduled to be held from May 3 in New York, and that the JCP, as a political party of the only A-bombed nation, will make the utmost effort to make the conference successful in order to pave the way for a “world without nuclear weapons.”

Shii stated that in his opinion, although the JCP and the U.S. government have different views on the issue of nuclear weapons, in terms of seeking a “nuclear-free world” there is a possibility for cooperation between the JCP and the U.S..

Stating that he had a favorable impression of Shii’s letter to President Obama when he read it, Ambassador Roos said that the U.S. and the JCP have a different opinion about and approach to the issue of nuclear weapons, but that both can agree on the need for the abolition of nuclear weapons that President Obama set as a goal.

Futenma base must be unconditionally removed: Shii

Shii went on to explain the JCP’s stance on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

Referring to local oppositions to the relocation of the Futenma base as expressed by a unanimous resolution adopted by the prefectural assembly as well as by all 41 municipal heads in Okinawa, Shii emphasized that the new mayor of Nago City, a relocation candidate site, has voiced his opposition to the building of a new U.S. base either on the sea or on the land in Nago. He said that there will be a big protest rally on April 25 in Okinawa and that the situation in Okinawa has passed the point of no return.

Reporting on a major rally which took place on the tiny island of Tokunoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Shii expressed the JCP opinion that there is no place either in Okinawa or anywhere in the country where the two governments can obtain local support for the base relocation, and that the only way to solve this issue is the unconditional removal of the Futenma base operations from Japan.

Ambassador Roos stated that he does not share the JCP’s view on this issue and stressed the importance of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty as well as the bilateral agreement on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan. At the same time, he said that he is aware of the need to reduce the impact of U.S. bases in Japan. The ambassador expressed his recognition that the plan to relocate the Futenma base within U.S. Camp Schwab is the best option.

Stating that the JCP view on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is obviously different, Shii referred to the fact that the Japanese and the U.S. governments in 1969 reached an agreement on the return of the administrative rights over Okinawa to Japan. He said that based on the anti-base movements developed in Okinawa and all over Japan at the time, both governments made the decision to go beyond the framework of the San Francisco Peace Treaty (Article 3). He also said that the bilateral relationship has reached a historical turning point in which the two governments need to make a similar decision. He stressed that what the JCP is calling for is based on its hope for a genuine friendship between the two countries.

Ambassador Roos said that regardless of differences in opinion, it is important to communicate openly with mutual respect.

The following JCP members also attended the talks:Vice Chair and International Commission Chair Ogata Yasuo, International Commission Vice Chair Kasai Akira (House of Representatives member), and International Commission Chief Officer Morihara Kimitoshi. From the U.S., Minister-Counselor Robert S. Luke and Second Secretary Jerome Ryan were present.

- Akahata, April 22, 2010