September 29, 2022

This year’s September 29 marks 50 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations between Japan and China with the signing of the Joint Communique on September 29, 1972 by then Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei and then Chinese Premier Chou En-lai together with their respective Foreign Ministers.

The 1972 Joint Communique states that Japan and China agree to establish their relations based on the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and cooperation for mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence as well as on the principles of the UN Charter. This was reaffirmed in the 1978 Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the 1998 Japan-China Joint Declaration, and the 2008 Japan-China Joint Statement.

With the confrontation between China and the United States manifesting in various fields, a situation incompatible with the spirit of the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique has arisen as evidenced in China’s intimidating behavior with its show of force and Japan’s reaction centering on military options, including the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

The urgent task now is for the Japanese government to reconfirm the essence of the 1972 Joint Communique which was confirmed between Japan and China over and over again, and to make diplomatic efforts to turn East Asia into a region of peace and cooperation. In addition, it is also important for Japan to firmly take a stance to solve issues in a peaceful manner based on the principles of the UN Charter.

The Japanese Communist Party, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of Japan-China relations, made a proposal regarding important points of the Japanese government’s attitude toward China under the current situation.

The JCP proposal demands that the government solve disputes with China through peaceful dialogue and not give priority to military responses; deal with issues related to China by using the UN Charter and international law; establish an inclusive framework and increase efforts to hold full-fledged bilateral dialogue; and prohibit historical revisionists’ moves to glorify Japan’s past war of aggression.