The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) has taken a strong stance against the remarks of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a parliamentary session, that a military “contingency” regarding China’s island province of Taiwan could trigger the involvement of Japanese armed forces, which have plunged relations between China and Japan into their worst crisis in decades.
On November 15, the Chinese newspaper Global Times, citing a release on the website of Shimbun Akahata, the JCP’s daily newspaper, reported that JCP Chair Shii Kazuo had, the previous day, demanded that Takaichi withdraw her remarks, warning that attempts to exaggerate the “crisis” by claiming that a Taiwan emergency would be an existential threat and using it to justify a massive military buildup must be firmly rejected.
Shii Kazuo, who is also a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, had posted on X that the prime minister’s “remarks had escalated into a serious international issue. What is needed to positively resolve Japan-China relations requires calm dialogue grounded in agreements affirmed by both sides, including the 2008 pledge of not posing a threat to each other, rather than provocative rhetoric that intensifies tensions. We again urge her to retract her remarks.”
The Shimbun Akahata report noted that even late former prime minister Shinzo Abe said things like, “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency” only after leaving office, refraining from making such statements while in office. This is because he understood how serious the situation would be. Takaichi lacks such basic diplomatic common sense. This diplomatic blunder should be corrected now, the report said.
Shii Kazuo had made a similar demand previously, on November 11, also in a post on X.
The Japan Press Weekly reported that on November 10, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira, at a press conference in the Diet (parliament) building, criticised Takaichi for implying that a “Taiwan contingency” would threaten Japan’s survival and thus allow Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to participate in a US-led war against China. He called the remarks “extremely dangerous.”
Koike added that she is the first prime minister to cite a specific case regarding Japan facing a crisis of “survival-threatening situation” that would justify the country’s use of the collective self-defence right. He criticised the remarks as “dangerous and reckless.”
Japan Press Weekly is an English-language online newsletter issued by the JCP.
Further, JCP Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku, at a press conference in the Diet building on November 14, pointed out that the Prime Minister’s remark that a “Taiwan contingency” would threaten Japan’s survival is heightening tensions between Japan and China and causing mutual distrust. He strongly demanded that she retract her remark in order to prevent the bilateral relations from worsening. He stated that the starting point of the current verbal dispute between the two countries lies in Takaichi’s remark, and added, “She should retract her controversial remark. This is a vital step needed to prevent the situation from being further exacerbated.”
In a written interview with Global Times, published on November 28, he elaborated on these remarks, saying that the prime minister should retract her remarks as they signaled the possibility of Japan engaging in military action even without being attacked, which constituted a trampling on the Constitution and may cause significant damage to both Japan and China.
“This amounts to declaring a concrete possibility of using force, which is a trampling on Article 9 of the Constitution and could inflict enormous damage on both Japan and China. Such remarks are intolerable,” Yamazoe said.
He further stressed that Takaichi’s remarks contradict Japan’s commitments in the 1972 Joint Communiqué between China and Japan, which affirmed that Tokyo “fully understands and respects” the position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Her suggestion of military intervention also contradicts the China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit made in 2008, in which both sides agreed that they are “cooperation partners and not threats to each other.”
Asked whether some Japanese politicians sufficiently understand how their words and deeds influence Chinese public sentiment and the broader bilateral relationship, Yamazoe stressed that 80 years after the war, the Japanese government and politicians are being questioned on how they face the history of past war of aggression and colonial rule. According to Yamazoe, the JCP believes that to build sincere peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations with the countries and people of Asia, and for establishing peace in East Asia through diplomacy, a correct understanding of historical issues cannot be avoided.
“Article 9 is the pledge made by Japan to the country and the world that Japan will never wage war again, based on the lessons of the past. The Takaichi administration is disregarding Article 9 and promoting a massive military buildup integrated with the US, a dangerous trend that heightens tensions, including with China,” Yamazoe noted.
Earlier, in March 2025, Yamazoe publicly presented historical documents at the National Diet proving that Unit 731, part of the Japanese invading forces, conducted live human experiments in China, urging the Japanese government to face up to history and acknowledge the truth. This marked the first instance of a Japanese lawmaker exposing such documents in the Diet, denouncing the Japanese government’s decades-long concealment of evidence of its wartime crimes.
In an interview with Global Times, published on August 18, asked why he thought Japan was so reluctant to fully admit its war crimes, Yamazoe replied:
“I believe postwar reparations are the primary reason. If Japan acknowledges all the crimes it committed during the war and their resulting harm, it would be held accountable. This is the Japanese government’s greatest concern and the fundamental reason it seeks to obfuscate the issue.
“Moreover, if the government admits one fact in such cases, it would inevitably have to acknowledge a chain of related events, leading to an ever-expanding scope of recognised truths. The Japanese government likely adopted its current approach based on this calculation. In other words, its priority is not to uncover historical truth, sincerely acknowledge Japan’s responsibility as a perpetrator, or take appropriate measures, but rather to obscure the facts as much as possible.”
He added: “In terms of politics and diplomacy, Japan’s relations with China, South Korea and other countries will inevitably suffer repeated setbacks due to historical issues, leading to a deterioration in bilateral ties. On a civilian level, without facing up to the past, it will be impossible to build genuine future-oriented friendships. The memories of the victims will not fade. No matter how much the perpetrators insist that ‘it’s in the past’ or ‘not our generation’s problem,’ this cognitive gap cannot be bridged.”
He also noted that: “Japanese diplomacy is heavily influenced by the US. Nearly all Japanese political parties regard the Japan-US alliance as absolute – a phenomenon unseen in other countries. Our call to rectify this abnormal situation is not about confronting the US but advocating for Japan to maintain equal relations with both the US and China. In fact, with incidents like US tariff policies, an increasing number of Japanese people are losing trust in the US.”
The principled stand adopted by the JCP, at least to date, is significant and welcome for a number of reasons. First, the JCP is a major political party in Japan. With some 250,000 members it is one of the largest communist parties outside of the socialist countries and the largest in any imperialist country.
Secondly, whilst the JCP strongly opposes the presence of US military bases in Japan, and plays a leading role in the Japanese peace movement, it has often adopted objectively chauvinist positions on a number of questions, which have repeatedly created difficulties in its relations with both the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK). In 2020, in its first programmatic change since 2004, the JCP declared that its Chinese counterpart was not qualified to be considered as socialist.
A positive indication of possible change in this regard came with the November visit to Beijing by JCP Vice Chair Yasuo Ogata.
Ogata met with Chen Zhou, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), on November 5. Reflecting the delicate state of relations between the two countries parties, the IDCPC website simply noted that, “the two sides exchanged views on the relations between the two Parties and the two countries as well as issues of common interest.”
Japan Press Weekly added that: “Ogata conveyed the aims and proposed methods outlined in the JCP’s ‘Proposals for Peacebuilding in East Asia,’ and expressed his hope to advance dialogue and possible cooperation between the two parties to achieve true peace in the region.
“Chen emphasised the importance of the 2008 Japan-China joint statement, which states that ‘the two countries are cooperative partners and do not pose a threat to each other,’ in achieving a positive breakthrough in Japan-China relations. He said that he understands that the JCP attaches importance to Japan-China relations and takes a responsible stance.”
The ostensible reason for Ogata’s visit was to participate in the World Socialism Forum, organised by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, where he was a keynote plenary speaker.
In his speech, Ogata noted that:
“Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, the world once again stands at a crossroads between war and peace. At the same time, we are facing a historic turning point brought about by the deepening crisis of the capitalist system.
“Today, the contradictions of capitalism have reached a new stage.
“First, inequality has grown both within countries and between countries. Wealth and power are concentrated in a handful of giant corporations and financial institutions, and this is destroying democracy and the balance of society itself.
“Second, we face an environmental crisis driven by climate change and the depletion of resources. The very conditions for the survival of our planet are now at risk, and this is a pressing challenge that every nation must confront.”
He added: “In this situation, there has been a renewed attention to Marx’s theory across the world… Quite a few people agree with our policies for solving the urgent problems they face, but they still hold doubts about the nature of socialist society itself. Yet, because they directly experience the contradictions of capitalism, they are compelled to look at the roots of exploitation and injustice. This makes them more open to coming to an understanding of socialism as a society without exploitation…
“Our party program makes three points clear: first, that every stage of socialist transformation must be based on the consent of the people; second, that in the socialisation of the means of production, producers themselves must play the leading role; and third, that the market economy should be introduced as the law-governed trajectory of socialist development.”
He concluded: “The endeavor to achieve social transformation toward socialism in Japan, an advanced capitalist country, is an uncharted path for humanity. We are determined to carry this hopeful endeavor forward, to advance the cause of socialism worldwide, and to open the way to a new future for humankind.”
The following articles were originally published by Global Times, Japan Press Weekly and on the IDCPC website.
Takaichi called ‘worst PM for destroying peaceful diplomacy’ as domestic backlash against her Taiwan remarks continues in Japan
November 15 (Global Times) – After several Chinese ministries and government agencies expressed strong protest and stern warning against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous and dangerous remarks on Taiwan in recent days, several Japanese media outlets have reported the strong reaction from the Chinese side, conveying China’s stern attitude, meanwhile, some Japanese political figures have continued to urge Takaichi to retract her wrong remarks.
Japan’s Nikkei on Saturday reported that “in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks regarding a Taiwan contingency, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 14th issued a notice urging Chinese citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan for the time being. On the 13th, China summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi to protest,” highlighting that such move “intensified its hardline stance toward Japan.”
Similarly, Japanese media outlets such as the Kyodo News Agency extensively covered recent China’s protesting moves across multiple government ministries, especially the summon of Japanese envoy.
Kyodo reported Saturday that calling Takaichi’s remarks “extremely wrong and dangerous,” Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong warned in his meeting with envoy Kenji Kanasugi on Thursday that “anyone who dares to interfere in China’s reunification cause in any form will surely be dealt a heavy blow,” the ministry said.
Sun was also quoted as saying the Japanese leader’s “provocative” remarks, which implied “the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait,” seriously undermined the political foundation of bilateral relations and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”The 1.4 billion Chinese people will never tolerate this,” he added.
Japan Times took heed of the travel alert, while stating that Chinese visitors to Japan make up nearly a quarter of all foreign tourists, according to Japan Tourism Agency statistics, with nearly 7.5 million visitors from Chinese mainland traveling to the country in the first nine months of this year.
The Chinese government’s warning to its citizens not to visit Japan — a move that could have a significant impact on tourism — was the first concrete move to punish Tokyo over Takaichi’s remarks, it said.
It can be stated that, due to Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous and provocative remarks on Taiwan, bilateral relations between China and Japan are experiencing a rare sudden political tension since the normalization of diplomatic relations, some Chinese observers pointed out.
Takaichi’s speech undoubtedly constitutes egregious rhetoric that crosses China’s red lines and represents an overreaching threat of force. The motives behind it include, but are not limited to, her obsequious posturing toward the US and the long-standing denial and revisionism of history by Japan’s domestic right-wing forces, Lü Chao, president and associate professor at the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University, told the Global Times.
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chair Shii Kazuo on Friday again demanded that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to withdraw her remarks on Taiwan, while warning that attempts to exaggerate the “crisis” by claiming that a Taiwan emergency would be an existential threat and using it to justify a massive military buildup must be firmly rejected, according to a release on the website of Shimbun Akahata, the JCP’s daily newspaper on Saturday.
Shii Kazuo, who is also a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, originally posted on X on Friday that the prime minister’s ” remarks on Taiwan” had escalated into a serious international issue. What is needed to positively resolve Japan-China relations requires calm dialogue grounded in agreements affirmed by both sides, including the 2008 pledge of not posing a threat to each other, rather than provocative rhetoric that intensifies tensions. “We again urge her to retract her remarks,” the JCP chair said.
The Shimbun Akahata report noted that even late former prime minister Shinzo Abe said things like ” a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency ” only after leaving office, refraining from making such statements while in office. This is because he understood how serious the situation would be. Takaichi lacks such basic diplomatic common sense. This diplomatic blunder should be corrected now, the report said.
Shii Kazuo has made a similar demand previously on November 11 in a post on X.
Yutaka Ishida, a member of the Yamato City Council in Kanagawa Prefecture, also called on Takaichi to withdraw her provocative remarks. In a post on Friday, he wrote that “this is a serious problem,” while noting that Takaichi’s claims on Taiwan “have sharply escalated tensions with China.”
“Beyond the risk of being dragged into war, Japan’s heavy reliance on trade with China could lead to further suffering from rising import prices,” Ishida wrote, calling Takaichi “the worst prime minister for destroying peaceful diplomacy.”
“Takaichi should retract her statements and resign,” Ishida said.
During a radio appearance on TBS on Thursday, Japanese former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba called Takaichi’s comments “very close to claiming that a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” adding that previous governments had consistently avoided making definitive declarations on how the government would respond to specific scenarios regarding the Taiwan question.
Hiroshi Ogushi of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), quoted by Jiji Press on Tuesday, had demanded Takaichi revoke the remarks.
“If a ‘survival-threatening situation’ is recognized, it would lead to a defense mobilization. This is a judgment equivalent to entering a war, and past cabinets have been cautious in making such statements,” Ogushi said.
Ichiro Ozawa, a member of the House of Representatives from the CDPJ, posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday that “this has become a true ‘existence crisis,’ which ultimately forces great sacrifices on the people,” and said “that is why diplomacy and politics must always remain calm.”
Takaichi must retract her remarks and make formal apologies. This is the only way for Japan to extricate itself from the current predicament, Lü said. “Should she persist in her course, the situation will escalate further, severely reversing Chinese-Japanese relations and potentially plunging them to a historic low since the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relationship. In that case, Japan will bear full responsibility.”
JCP Koike criticizes PM Takaichi’s ‘Taiwan contingency is survival-threatening situation’ remark
November 11 (Japan Press Weekly) – Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira, at a press conference in the Diet building on November 10, criticized Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae for implying that a “Taiwan contingency” would threaten Japan’s survival and thus allow Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to participate in a U.S.-led war against China. He called the remarks “extremely dangerous.”
PM Takaichi, in response to a question from a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker at a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee on November 7, stated that a Taiwan contingency would constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
This is a grave statement, as the SDF’s participation in that event would inevitably provoke Chinese retaliation, potentially turning Japanese territory, particularly the Nansei (southwest) Islands located near Taiwan, into a battlefield.
Koike pointed out that PM Takaishi in her response to the CDPJ Dietmember merely expressed that she “hopes for a peaceful resolution through dialogue,” and that she completely omitted any mention of a diplomatic solution. Koike noted, “She focused solely on military countermeasures.”
Koike stated that she is the first prime minister to cite a specific case regarding Japan facing a crisis of “survival-threatening situation” that would justify the country’s use of the collective self-defense right. Koike criticized the remarks as “dangerous and reckless.”
PM Takaichi later stated that she “reflected” on her Diet response and “will refrain from explicitly naming specific cases,” but stated that she will not retract her controversial remarks. Koike said, “If she won’t retract them, then it’s not reflection.”
Yamazoe urges PM Takaichi to retract her remark on potential ‘Taiwan contingency’ as a national security issue for Japan in order to prevent escalation of situation
November 15 (Japan Press Weekly) – Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku, at a press conference in the Diet building on November 14, pointed out that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remark that a “Taiwan contingency” would threaten Japan’s survival is heightening tensions between Japan and China and causing mutual distrust. He strongly demanded that PM Takaichi retract her remark in order to prevent the bilateral relations from worsening.
Yamazoe said that although PM Takaichi explained that the government maintains its conventional position on the Taiwan issue, she in her remark cited a specific region’s situation and suggested that it would meet the requirements for Japan’s use of the collective self-defense right. He criticized Takaichi for “going overboard.” He stated that the Chinese side has reacted to PM Takaichi’s remark by such means as expressing condemnation and summoning Japanese Ambassador to China Kanasugi Kenji to file a protest. He stressed, “This is an issue that could escalate beyond mere verbal criticism. You should take it seriously.”
Yamazoe stated that the starting point of the current verbal dispute between the two countries lies in PM Takaichi’s remark, and added, “She should retract her controversial remark. This is a vital step needed to prevent the situation from being further exacerbated.”
‘A trampling on Constitution’: JCP lawmaker urges Takaichi to retract Taiwan-related remarks
November 28 (Global Times) – In an exclusive written response to the Global Times, Japanese Communist Party (JCP) lawmaker and House of Councillors member Taku Yamazoe criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on the Taiwan question, saying that she should retract her remarks as they signaled the possibility of Japan engaging in military action even without being attacked, which constituted a trampling on the Constitution and may cause significant damage to both Japan and China.
His comments add to a growing chorus of political criticism in Japan after Takaichi claimed during a Diet session on November 7 that the Chinese mainland’s “use of force on Taiwan” could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
Yamazoe said Takaichi’s remarks—which linked a so-called “Taiwan contingency” to “survival-threatening situation” defined in Japan’s security legislation, implies Japan could engage in military intervention alongside US forces under the right of collective self-defense even if Japan itself were not attacked.
“This amount to declaring a concrete possibility of using force, which is a trampling on Article 9 of the Constitution and could inflict enormous damage on both Japan and China. Such remarks are intolerable,” Yamazoe said.
He further stressed that Takaichi’s remarks contradict Japan’s commitments in the 1972 Joint Communiqué between China and Japan, which affirmed that Tokyo “fully understands and respects” the position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Her suggestion of military intervention also contradicts the China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit made in 2008, in which both sides agreed that they are “cooperation partners and not threats to each other.”
Given this context, Yamazoe called on Takaichi to retract her remarks.
Responding to a Global Times question on how to assess the current situation in which political remarks have begun to affect the business environment and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Yamazoe expressed his great concern about the impact on Japan-China economic and people-to-people exchanges. “The deterioration of bilateral relations began with Takaichi’s remarks. She should retract them,” he said.
Asked whether some Japanese politicians sufficiently understand how their words and deeds influence Chinese public sentiment and the broader bilateral relationship, Yamazoe stressed that 80 years after the war, the Japanese government and politicians are being questioned on how they face the history of past war of aggression and colonial rule. According to Yamazoe, the JCP believes that to build sincere peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations with the countries and people of Asia, and for establishing peace in East Asia through diplomacy, a correct understanding of historical issues cannot be avoided.
“Article 9 is the pledge made by Japan to the country and the world that Japan will never wage war again, based on the lessons of the past. The Takaichi administration is disregarding Article 9 and promoting a massive military buildup integrated with the US, a dangerous trend that heightens tensions, including with China,” Yamazoe noted.
Asahi Shimbun reported that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Nippon Ishin no Kai met Thursday to discuss drafting constitutional amendments related to Article 9 under their coalition agreement. Ishin presented proposals including deleting Clause 2—which prohibits maintaining armed forces—and explicitly defining a “National Defense Force,” echoing LDP proposals from its years in opposition and Takaichi’s previous remarks. However, public opinion remains divided, and even within the LDP also hold cautious attitude toward the proposal.
Yamazoe emphasized that regional peace and stability need dialogue and diplomacy, not military confrontation.
Diplomacy between Japan and China must be conducted on the basis of the agreements that both countries have confirmed and continue to uphold. It is essential for Japanese politicians to fully recognize these agreements and it is the prerequisite of everything, Yamazoe said.
Regarding Takaichi’s remarks, the Chinese government has constantly voiced oppositions and asked the Japanese Prime Minister to retract the erroneous words. On Thursday, The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its firm opposition. Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Takaichi’s “erroneous remarks seriously violated the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, eroded the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and triggered outrage among the Chinese people.”
“‘Stop referring to’ is not the same as ‘retracting’ the remarks. The two are completely different in nature. The Japanese side hopes to downplay Prime Minister Takaichi’s erroneous remarks and make them go away by ‘not referring to’ them. That is just self-deceiving and wishful thinking, and China would absolutely not accept that,” Guo said.
Testimony of history: ‘Generations may change, but perpetrators’ responsibility will not vanish’: Japanese lawmaker Taku Yamazoe
August 18 (Global Times) – In March, Japanese Communist Party and House of Councillors member Taku Yamazoe publicly presented historical documents at the National Diet proving that Unit 731, part of the Japanese invading forces, conducted live human experiments in China, urging the Japanese government to face up to history and acknowledge the truth. This marked the first instance of a Japanese lawmaker exposing such documents in the Diet, denouncing the Japanese government’s decades-long concealment of evidence of its wartime crimes. Why did Yamazoe raise these questions at the time as a Diet member? Behind the Japanese government’s deliberate concealment of historical truth, is it out of fear of bearing war responsibility, or indulgence in historical revisionism? And where will this prolonged concealment lead Japan’s future? With these questions in mind, Global Times (GT) reporters recently visited the House of Councillors building in Nagatacho, Tokyo for an exclusive interview with Yamazoe.
GT: Could you elaborate on the details of the historical documents that you presented in the Diet in March regarding Unit 731’s human experiments?
Yamazoe: This is the first time a lawmaker publicly raised, in the Diet, the issue of the Japanese government’s long-standing concealment of relevant documents. Although 80 years have passed since the end of World War II, Japan has yet to reach a consensus on its role as a perpetrator and the harm it had inflicted. I believe this is tied to the government’s reluctance to squarely acknowledge its own responsibility.
What can be confirmed is that among postwar archives, there are documents detailing Unit 731’s human experiments – these were the materials I later presented at a Budget Committee session of the House of Councillors. Based on these documents, the government should admit the facts it has long refused to acknowledge. That was the starting point of my questioning.
GT: There remains a vast amount of evidence, not only in Japan but also in China, pointing to the atrocities committed by the Japanese military during its invasion in China. Why, then, is the Japanese government unwilling to fully admit its crimes?
Yamazoe: I believe postwar reparations are the primary reason. If Japan acknowledges all the crimes it committed during the war and their resulting harm, it would be held accountable. This is the Japanese government’s greatest concern and the fundamental reason it seeks to obfuscate the issue.
Moreover, if the government admits one fact in such cases, it would inevitably have to acknowledge a chain of related events, leading to an ever-expanding scope of recognized truths. The Japanese government likely adopted its current approach based on this calculation. In other words, its priority is not to uncover historical truth, sincerely acknowledge Japan’s responsibility as a perpetrator, or take appropriate measures, but rather to obscure the facts as much as possible.
GT: In May, remarks by Liberal Democratic Party and House of Councillors member Shoji Nishida regarding Okinawa’s Himeyuri Memorial Tower caused an uproar in Japan. We have noticed that some Japanese politicians are attempting to distort not only the history of Japan’s invasion of China, but also Okinawa’s history.
Yamazoe: The 1945 Battle of Okinawa, fought to buy time for the (Japanese) mainland, claimed the lives of countless Okinawan civilians, including the Himeyuri student corps. Nishida’s claim that “the explanatory text at the Himeyuri Memorial Tower distorts history” is itself a desecration of history. In today’s Japanese politics, Nishida is far from an isolated case – the distortion of history is intensifying.
GT: What consequences will Japan face if it continues to embrace historical revisionism?
Yamazoe: In terms of politics and diplomacy, Japan’s relations with China, South Korea and other countries will inevitably suffer repeated setbacks due to historical issues, leading to a deterioration in bilateral ties. On a civilian level, without facing up to the past, it will be impossible to build genuine future-oriented friendships. The memories of the victims will not fade. No matter how much the perpetrators insist that “it’s in the past” or “not our generation’s problem,” this cognitive gap cannot be bridged. If this gap persists, it would be profoundly tragic – even hindering true international exchange and mutual cooperation.
GT: How far is Japan from achieving a “foreign policy that does not wage war?”
Yamazoe: Japanese diplomacy is heavily influenced by the US. Nearly all Japanese political parties regard the Japan-US alliance as absolute – a phenomenon unseen in other countries. Our call to rectify this abnormal situation is not about confronting the US, but advocating for Japan to maintain equal relations with both the US and China. In fact, with incidents like US tariff policies, an increasing number of Japanese people are losing trust in the US. Thus, while Japan still has some way to go before achieving a “foreign policy that does not wage war,” it is not an unattainable goal.
GT: Under the current international situation, how significant is urging the Japanese government to stop concealing war crimes, face up to history and move toward peace?
Yamazoe: A government that cannot face up to history has no right to speak of the future. Without a clear recognition of past mistakes, there is no way to prevent repeating them. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, I believe the Japanese government must accurately acknowledge and admit what it had done during the war, then disseminate this understanding nationwide. This is a necessary job to prevent future mistakes.
GT: Shigeru Ishiba abandoned plans to issue a prime ministerial statement on the 80th anniversary of the war’s end on August 15. To Japan’s right-wing forces, Shinzo Abe’s 70th-anniversary statement in 2015 was already the “definitive statement.” Some in Japan also argue that “we cannot take responsibility for past generations.” In your view, what constitutes a genuine apology?
Yamazoe: For Japan to offer a true apology for its responsibility as a perpetrator, the fundamental prerequisite is to face up to and acknowledge historical facts. Take Unit 731 as an example – even now, the (Japanese) government continues to conceal the details of its activities, refusing to disclose them. Once the facts of harm are confirmed, the parties to whom apologies are owed naturally become clear. Even as time passes and generations change, the responsibility of the perpetrators does not vanish.
GT: Standing at the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, how do you view the future of China-Japan relations?
Yamazoe: I believe a most crucial task is building a relationship that does not wage war. Some consensus has been reached between Japan and China. Based on these common understandings, it is entirely possible for both countries to adopt a stance against war. Therefore, I think a most important thing for Japan and China is not to exacerbate regional tensions, but to work together toward easing them.
Chen Zhou Meets with Yasuo Ogata, Vice Chairman of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party
November 5 (IDCPC) – Chen Zhou, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Yasuo Ogata, Vice Chairman of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party. The two sides exchanged views on the relations between the two Parties and the two countries as well as issues of common interest.
Ogata talks with deputy director of CPC int’l dept.
November 7 (Japan Press Weekly) – Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo, visiting Beijing to attend the World Socialist Forum, on November 5 held talks with Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
They discussed the current situation in East Asia and around the world, and exchanged views on relations between the two parties and the two countries.
Ogata conveyed the aims and proposed methods outlined in the JCP’s “Proposals for Peacebuilding in East Asia,” and expressed his hope to advance dialogue and possible cooperation between the two parties to achieve true peace in the region.
Chen emphasized the importance of the 2008 Japan-China joint statement, which states that “the two countries are cooperative partners and do not pose a threat to each other,” in achieving a positive breakthrough in Japan-China relations. He said that he understands that the JCP attaches importance to Japan-China relations and takes a responsible stance.
Ogata stated that, in the current climate, the agreement that both sides “do not pose a threat to each other” holds even greater significance.
Ogata speaks at World Socialism Forum
November 14 (Japan Press Weekly) – Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo spoke at the 15th World Socialism Forum which took place on November 3 and 4 in Beijing and which was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
In the forum, 90 scholars and political party representatives from 35 countries and 100 Chinese researchers exchanged views on the theme, “At the Crossroads of World History: The Choice of All Nations.”
The full text of Ogata’s statement is as follows:
Deepening Contradictions of Capitalism and Karl Marx: Insights from Our Party’s Theoretical Practice
Ogata Yasuo
Vice Chair, Japanese Communist Party
Former Member of the House of Councillors of Japan
I would like to speak on the theme of “Deepening Contradictions of Capitalism and Karl Marx: Insights from Our Party’s Theoretical Practice.” In doing so, I will also share some experiences from our party’s theoretical work. Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, the world once again stands at a crossroads between war and peace. At the same time, we are facing a historic turning point brought about by the deepening crisis of the capitalist system.
I. The Worsening Negative Impacts under Neoliberalism
Today, the contradictions of capitalism have reached a new stage.
First, inequality has grown both within countries and between countries. Wealth and power are concentrated in a handful of giant corporations and financial institutions, and this is destroying democracy and the balance of society itself.
Second, we face an environmental crisis driven by climate change and the depletion of resources. The very conditions for the survival of our planet are now at risk, and this is a pressing challenge that every nation must confront.
The financial crisis of 2008 marked a turning point. The G7-centered order collapsed, and with the rise of the Global South, the G20 emerged. Yet even now, the capitalist powers have failed to present any fundamental solution, and the system remains deadlocked.
II. A Renewed Interest in Marx’s Theory
In this situation, there has been a renewed attention to Marx’s theory across the world.
In the United States, which declared “victory for capitalism” after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many people now face poverty and the denial of human dignity in a society that was supposed to be built on the ideal of freedom. More and more, they are turning to Marx for answers to the question: why is this happening? Some even try to find in Marx’s idea of freedom a new possibility for American society. This is what has been called a “Marx boom.”
At the same time, in the Global South, social movements against inequality and struggles to overcome the climate crisis are searching for alternatives to capitalism. In these movements, Marx’s theory is again showing its power to provide guidance.
III. Our Party’s Path of Social Transformation and Theoretical Exploration
Japan is no exception. Once our country accounted for 18 percent of the world’s GDP, but today that figure has fallen to only 4 percent.
Under these conditions, poverty among the populace has deepened, driven by long working hours and low wages. At the root of this situation lies a political structure distorted by the dominance of big business as well as by subordination to the interests of the United States.
– The struggle to overcome the contradictions we face
In Japan, our path of social transformation aims to achieve a democratic revolution that resolves these two root problems. On that basis, we seek to advance step by step toward socialist transformation.
Quite a few people agree with our policies for solving the urgent problems they face, but they still hold doubts about the nature of socialist society itself. Yet, because they directly experience the contradictions of capitalism, they are compelled to look at the roots of exploitation and injustice. This makes them more open to coming to an understanding of socialism as a society without exploitation. This awareness is, in a sense, a distinctive feature of Japan.
– The perspective of a future society under Japan’s conditions
Our party places great importance on discussing the vision of the future in light of Japan’s current conditions. We already have a high level of productive power, mechanisms for social regulation and management of the economy, and democratic institutions such as the parliament. As Marx pointed out, the conditions for a future society are prepared within the womb of capitalism itself.
Our party program makes three points clear: first, that every stage of socialist transformation must be based on the consent of the people; second, that in the socialization of the means of production, producers themselves must play the leading role; and third, that the market economy should be introduced as the law-governed trajectory of socialist development. These guidelines provide a practical foundation that connects the immediate solutions to pressing social issues with the broader perspective of building socialism.
– The movement to study Capital
As part of our theoretical exploration, our party has placed special emphasis on activities centered on Karl Marx’s Capital. Recently, our party chair, SHII Kazuo, delivered two lectures at seminars organized by a youth organization.
The first lecture was titled “Communism and Freedom — Guided by Capital.” It explained that what is taken away by capitalist exploitation is not only material goods or money. By ending exploitation, working hours can be reduced, and all people can gain sufficient free time. This free time is the key to guaranteeing the free and all-round development of every human being, as clarified in Capital.
The second lecture was titled “Why Capital Is Fascinating Today — Studying the Present and the Future with Marx.” It introduced the essence of Volume I of Capital. It clarified the economic laws of motion of capitalist society and showed that the fundamental solution to capitalist exploitation requires a transformation to a socialist system. It also emphasized that the development of the working class, as the force that transforms the old order, is the driving power of social change. By connecting these points with the concrete issues we face today, the lecture shed light on both the present and the future. Both of these books are being widely shared together as “books of transformation and hope.”
Of course, explaining the entirety of Capital is not easy. That is why we encourage progressive-minded people to read the original text, and to make this possible we completed a new Japanese edition four years ago. Using this as a guide, together with the two lecture texts, we have advanced a study movement across our whole party. As a party that has long pursued the study of Marxism and worked to strengthen our theoretical foundation, we are now calling for a “movement to read Capital” both inside and outside the party. This includes not only the study of lectures but also open street gatherings where we engage in dialogue about socialism with ordinary citizens. These theoretical activities are not confined to study alone; they play a practical role in giving real strength to labor struggles and social movements.
IV. Conclusion
The forces that block the path of transformation are enormous and powerful. Even when the objective conditions of capitalism’s deepening contradictions are present, there can be no real advance in social change without the subjective conditions — the support of the people, the strength of the party, and the growth of forces working together.
This is why the strengthening of theory is a strategic task for building our party. The endeavor to achieve social transformation toward socialism in Japan, an advanced capitalist country, is an uncharted path for humanity. We are determined to carry this hopeful endeavor forward, to advance the cause of socialism worldwide, and to open the way to a new future for humankind.
Thank you.
