JCP issues statement on 68th anniversary of end of WWII

Commemorating the 68th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on August 15 issued the following statement:

On the anniversary of the end of WWII, the JCP again sincerely expresses its condolences to the 20 million people of other Asian nations and more than 3.1 million Japanese who were victimized and made to suffer by Japan's war of aggression and colonial rule.

After the war, the international community of nations started with the firm determination never to allow such wars of aggression as ignited by militarist Japan, Nazi Germany, and Fascist Italy to be repeated. Reflecting on its aggressive war and barbarous colonial rule over other Asian countries, postwar Japan resolved that "never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government" in the Constitution established in 1946. This was also its pledge when Japan was allowed to reenter the global community again after the war.

However, disquieting moves are taking place in Japan that deny the starting point of agreement in the postwar world, which violate Japan's international commitment. The Abe government is moving to reject past administrations' views such as the 1995 Murayama Statement that admits to Japan's brutal acts during the war. Members of the Abe Cabinet are visiting and worshiping one after another at the Yasukuni Shrine which was a spiritual prop for Japan's war of aggression. The shrine has been consistently claiming that "Japan fought a war of justice for its self-existence and self-defense."

Some politicians are making provocative remarks denying the involvement of the Japanese Imperial military in the operation of the "comfort women" system during WWII. Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro even said Japan "should learn" from Nazi Germany regarding the most efficient procedure to initiate constitutional revision. Such remarks have provoked severe criticism from both home and abroad.

The point is that these moves are closely connected to the intention to change the constitutional interpretation on the right to collective self-defense in order to be enabled to wage wars abroad and to revise Article 9 which denies the right to form offensive armed forces as well as the right of belligerency. In addition, the Abe Cabinet is seeking to install a Japanese version of the U.S. Marine Corps in the Self-Defense Forces so that the SDF will have the capability to attack enemy bases on short notice. He is brazenly attempting to strengthen the SDF's offensive abilities. These actions by the Abe Cabinet run counter to the world trend to give top priority to preventing conflicts from escalating into wars, and will drive the country into isolation from the international community.

According to the latest opinion poll, most of the respondents oppose an amendment of Article 9 and Article 96 as well as Japan's exercise of the right to collective self-defense. The JCP, together with these people, in recognition of the horrors associated with the past war of aggression, will work hard to realize policies that contribute to world peace in line with the basic principles of peace and democracy as held by the Constitution.