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2017 December 13 - 19 [JCP]

This week’s JCP international activities

Shii talks with French ambassador
December 15, 2017

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 14 held talks with French Ambassador to Japan Laurent Pic at the JCP head office in Tokyo.

The ambassador cited that 2018 will see the 160th anniversary of friendship between Japan and France and said that he will play a role in furthering the two nations’ friendly ties.

Shii said that as a political party, the JCP will work to help further deepen the bilateral relations and talked about the JCP’s basic stance on international exchange activities.

The ambassador asked Shii about the JCP view on the results of the October general election, the political situation in Japan, and international issues.

In response, Shii explained that the JCP makes tenacious efforts to advance united struggles between opposition parties and concerned citizens. Regarding the general election results, Shii said that the JCP’s hard work enabled the opposition-citizens alliance to win a victory by overcoming roadblocks put up to hinder the unification. He said that the party will continue working to achieve a major advance in elections and further develop the opposition-citizens collaboration.

In regard to international issues, Shii noted that the Abe administration has adopted a position unconditionally supporting the U.S. Trump administration in both the Jerusalem issue and the North Korea issue. Shii criticized the Abe government’s extraordinarily submissive stance that have worsened both crises.

Explaining the JCP position on the North Korea issue, Shii said that in order to prevent the current crisis from being escalated into military conflict, the most important action is to take a step toward solutions through dialogue in combination with increased economic sanctions.

JCP International Commission Chair Ogata Yasuo and the French Embassy Minister Counsellor Jean-Baptiste Lesecq and counsellor Joan Valadou also attended the talks.

Shii sends condolence message on death of NZ notable antinuke activist
December 16, 2016

At the news of the death of honorary chairperson of the New Zealand antinuke organization, Peace Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, Gerald O’Brien, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 13 sent the following message of condolence to the organization:

My Condolences to the passing of Mr. Gerald O'Brien

On behalf of the Japanese Communist Party, I extend my heartfelt condolences on Mr. Gerald O'Brien's passing.
Mr. O'Brien has devoted himself to achieving a nuclear weapons free New Zealand and world. I would like to reiterate our sincere gratitude for his great contribution to the solidarity and cooperation between two peace movements of Japan and New Zealand. He had attended, from 1985 to 2005, the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the rallies commemorating “Bikini Day” 1st of March. His spirit for peace and for a nuclear weapon free will continues to be alive in our mind.
I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to Ms. Fausta O'Brien and the family, as well as to all friends working together for peace.
I pray for everyone's health and heartiness.

Shii Kazuo
Member of the House of Representatives of Japan
Chair, Japanese Communist Party
December 13, 2017