May 8 and 9, 2010
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 6 paid his first ever visit to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and met separately with House of Representatives member Democrat Vic Snyder (Arkansas) and Republican Donald Manzullo (Illinois). Shii also met with Republican Thomas Petri (Wisconsin) on May 7.
In these talks Shii mentioned that he sent a letter to President Obama to express his welcome to the President’s Prague speech calling for a “world without nuclear weapons.” Shii went on to say it is his belief that the JCP and the United States in the long run can cooperate on this issue despite differences in positions.
As regards Japan-U.S. relations, especially the issue of Okinawa, where the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is the point at issue, Shii pointed out Okinawans' solid consensus that they will never allow a new base on their islands. He explained the JCP position that the only way to solve the Futenma issue is the unconditional removal of the base from Japan.
Various topics were also discussed, including Japan-U.S. economic relations, the ideals of the American Revolution and the spirit of U.S. nation building, and personal exchanges between Karl Marx and Abraham Lincoln on the Civil War.
Asked by reporters, Shii replied that he had hoped his first trip to the United States would offer a good opportunity for mutual exchanges between the JCP and U.S. Congress members. These meetings are significant as a first step to promote further exchanges, which in the future may be carried out as nothing out of the ordinary.”
- Akahata, May 8 and 9, 2010
As regards Japan-U.S. relations, especially the issue of Okinawa, where the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is the point at issue, Shii pointed out Okinawans' solid consensus that they will never allow a new base on their islands. He explained the JCP position that the only way to solve the Futenma issue is the unconditional removal of the base from Japan.
Various topics were also discussed, including Japan-U.S. economic relations, the ideals of the American Revolution and the spirit of U.S. nation building, and personal exchanges between Karl Marx and Abraham Lincoln on the Civil War.
Asked by reporters, Shii replied that he had hoped his first trip to the United States would offer a good opportunity for mutual exchanges between the JCP and U.S. Congress members. These meetings are significant as a first step to promote further exchanges, which in the future may be carried out as nothing out of the ordinary.”
- Akahata, May 8 and 9, 2010
