Japan Press Weekly

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2014 August 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

JCP issues statement on 69th anniversary of end of WWII

Commemorating the 69th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki issued the following statement on August 15:

On the 69th anniversary of the end of WWII, the JCP expresses its sincere condolences to all domestic and foreign victims of Japan’s war of aggression and its colonial rule over other Asian countries. On this solemn day, the JCP also renews its resolve to work with the general public in order to protect and promote the lasting peace envisioned in the Japanese Constitution, which the Japanese people established after experiencing the ravages of war.

Japan has this anniversary while standing at a critical crossroad, moving toward war or moving toward world peace. With the aim of turning Japan into a nation which can wage wars abroad, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s Cabinet recently made a decision to enable Japan to use the right to collective self-defense by turning away from the traditional interpretation of the Constitution that Article 9 prohibits the state from using armed force abroad. In response to the questions imposed by JCP parliamentarians in the Diet, PM Abe acknowledged that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces may enter “combat zones” to provide military support to U.S. forces. Furthermore, the prime minister admitted to the possibility of Japan’s use of force, saying that dispatched SDF troops will be allowed to exercise force when they are under attack. What the Abe government really wants to do is to sacrifice the lives of Japanese youngsters for wars initiated by the United States.

The Cabinet decision vaguely claims that even if Japan does not come under direct military attack, the nation will be allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense when there is “a clear danger to fundamentally overturn people’s right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”. In this regard, Abe in Diet deliberations stated that Japan may use its forces abroad if Japan’s oil supply is jeopardized or if Japan-U.S. relationships are seriously affected. His remarks indicate that those in positions of power and influence want to expand the use of arms abroad without limit. The militaristic Japan that waged aggressive wars under the pretext of defending the existence and security of the empire cannot be allowed to reemerge.

An unprecedentedly wide range of the public is expressing concerns over and anger at Abe’s attempt to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation. Driven by a sense of anxiety, they are beginning to stand up to protest. Our struggles have only just started. The JCP strongly demands the withdrawal of the unconstitutional Cabinet decision and a halt to the preparation of bills to turn Japan into a nation capable of fighting wars abroad. The JCP will continue to work hard for broader public cooperation to block the move toward becoming a war-fighting nation and to protect the Constitution. The JCP also calls for joint efforts to frustrate the Abe administration’s ambition to promote militarism and to force the prime minister to resign.