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As the country was embarking on wars of aggression and imposing colonial rule on Asian countries, the Japanese people were deprived of all democratic rights. Outlawed from the outset of its founding, the JCP was subjected to all forms of repression and persecution. In spite of this difficulty, the JCP kept fighting for democracy. The JCP was the only political party in Japan that stood firmly in opposition to the war of aggression.
In 1945, with the end of the Pacific War, the JCP for the first time won legality, which marked the beginning of its new advances.
The Constitution of Japan came into effect in 1947. It expresses the resolve of the Japanese people that "never again …... we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government" and declared that "sovereign power resides with the people." This bore out the correctness of the longstanding position of the JCP.
From 1950-1955, as repression by the U.S. occupation forces swept Japan, the JCP was forced to split by a group connected with the Soviet Union and China. The group worked to bring into Japan fallacious policies from abroad. This brought considerable difficulties and damages to the JCP for the next several years (The "1950 Question").
Party unity was restored after two JCP Congresses that took place during the period 1958-1961. These congresses completely resolved the problems related to the party split and established a new course as set down in the JCP Program. It has two pillars:
1. a democratic revolution to achieve democratic change in politics and the economy, and the complete restoration of Japan's sovereignty; and
2. adherence to sovereign independence that does not tolerate outside interference in a Japanese people's movement.
In 1964 interference and attacks began from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). JCP-CPSU relations were normalized in 1979 when the CPSU admitted that it had committed the error.
In 1966 the Communist Party of China started interference in and attacks against the JCP. JCP-CPC relations were normalized and leaders of both parties had summit talks in 1998 following the CPC making clear its attitude of "serious examination and rectification" about the error it had committed during this period.
The JCP 13th Extraordinary Congress in 1976 adopted the "Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy," which clearly states that the people's freedom of existence, civil-political freedom and the freedom of the nation must continue development in Japan's future.
The Japanese Communist Party as a political party of socialism envisages the development of a future society that overcomes capitalism. But in achieving social development, it stands for a "staged approach" to social development; problems will be resolved step by step and every step will be taken when the time is ripe for doing so in relation to the people. The JCP views that social development at any stage can only be achieved when it is supported by the majority of the people. This "revolution by the majority" is the crux of JCP policy.
The immediate task is for the JCP to accomplish a democratic change within the framework of capitalism in order to achieve the following political goals for Japan:
1. Breaking away from the Japan-U.S. military alliance and dismantling all U.S. military bases in Japan, we will build a non-aligned and neutral Japan and recover national sovereignty (In Japan there are about 130 U.S. military bases and other related facilities);
2. We will change the nation's economic policy of serving the interests of large corporations and banks to one of defending the interests of the people, and establish democratic rules that will check tyrannical activities of large corporations and protect the lives and basic rights of the people;
3. We will build a Japan that does not tolerate any attempt to adversely revise the Constitution, a Japan in which we can live democratically, free from apprehensions about militarism being revived.
The JCP aims for establishing a democratic coalition government in the early part of the 21st century to steer Japan towards democracy and peace.
In international activities the JCP has placed emphasis on the importance of respecting the right of every nation to self-determination, and has rigorously opposed any hegemonism which encroaches on national sovereignty, regardless of who is the perpetrator power.
This JCP position is translated into its opposition to the Japan-U.S. military alliance, which puts Japan virtually in a militarily subordinate position to the United States. This also applies to international questions. The JCP opposed the Soviet aggression against Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan as well as the U.S. war of aggression against Vietnam.
As noted, the JCP also repelled interference and attacks from the Soviet Union and China. Both the former Soviet Union and China later admitted that they had been wrong and then JCP relations with them were normalized.
The JCP puts forward as tasks requiring urgent action the elimination of nuclear weapons, dissolution of all military blocs, the dismantling of foreign military bases, and the strict defense of the right to self-determination and national sovereignty.
The elimination of international terrorism is one of the fundamental problems that affect the existence of humankind in the 21st century. The JCP believes that only by encircling the forces of terror through strong international solidarity with the United Nations at the center can terrorism be eliminated. Waging war as a response to terrorism produces a rift and contradictions in international solidarity, which instead expands the breeding ground of terrorism.
The current U.S. global strategy strengthens the tendency of hegemonic overdrive, as it openly declares the possibility of preemptive strikes, the unilateral use of nuclear weapons and the overthrow of hostile governments. It has become an urgent task to curb this U.S. hegemonism and defend the order of international peace based on the United Nations Charter.
Regarding the issue of the international economy, the JCP has advocated establishing a new international democratic economic order on the basis of respect for the economic sovereignty of each country. Under capitalism, the internationalization of trade, investment, and marketing is a tendency inherent in this economic system. However, the United States, transnational corporations and international financial capital are now pushing the kind of economic order under the name of “globalization” that is seriously affecting the global economy, including the monetary and financial problems, as well as North-South and environmental problems. The JCP views democratic regulation of activities by transnational corporations and international financial capital on an international scale as one of the important pillars of the new economic order, and calls for common action and solidarity with the movements striving for social progress.
The JCP calls for four changes in Japan’s foreign policy and has developed, in line with them, its diplomacy as an opposition party.
1. In resolution of disputes, priority must be given to peaceful means through negotiations, not to military solutions. Japan will adhere to the peace order established in the U.N. Charter.
2. Japan as an Asian country must stop putting too much emphasis on diplomacy centering on relations with the United States and G8 Summit and put Asia diplomacy at the center of its foreign relations.
3. Japan will establish an independent foreign policy in the interests of the Japanese people, work with the world in reasonable ways and refuse to uncritically follow any foreign power.
4. Japan will express remorse and apologies for its war of aggression and colonial rule as a prerequisite for developing Japan’s relations with Asia.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POLITICAL PARTIES AND GOVERNMENTS
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