Japan: Stalinist Patriots against “China’s Hegemonism”

 

The Japanese Communist Party and the inter-imperialist Cold War

 

by Michael Pröbsting, International Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT), 7 October 2021, www.thecommunists.net

 

 

 

A short time ago, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) published a statement about the recent escalation of the Cold War between the U.S. (and its allies) and China. [1] Unsurprisingly, it denounced the militarist character of the new AUKUS alliance [2] as well as the so-called Quad alliance (U.S., Japan, India and Australia). [3] It warned that the rising number of military activities of Western forces “will increase tensions with China.[4]

 

It is equally unsurprising that the JCP does not say one word about the imperialist nature of the Great Powers involved or about what socialists should do in the struggle against militarism. Such statements are the bog-standard stuff which one can expect from a Stalinist party committed to the meagre diet of impotent pacifism.

 

However, the final two sentences of the statement are more remarkable as they demonstrate the bourgeois strategy of the Stalinist party. “In order to stop China's hegemonism, the "involvement" of a framework with participation of China is necessary, not "besiegement" of China. Efforts to have China abide by rules should be made.

 

 

 

Commitment to the bourgeois order

 

 

 

For those familiar with the program and the history of the JCP, these sentences reveal several things. First, the JCP loves peace. But it loves its (imperialist) motherland even more. This is why it accuses China of “hegemonism”. As we have shown in past documents, the JCP calls for the defense of islands which Japan control, but which are claimed by China (like the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands). [5] Likewise, it demands the return of other islands which Japan claim but which are controlled by other neighboring states. [6]

 

At the same time, the JCP staunchly refuses (since 1945) to recognize the imperialist character of Japan. It rather claims that Japan is a “dependent country” as the U.S. “tramples on Japan's sovereignty and independence”. Hence, the JCP is committed to “recovering Japan's genuine independence”. [7] This means nothing but calling for the strengthening of Japan’s imperialism so that Nippon’s monopoly bourgeoisie is free from Washington’s restrictions.

 

The last sentence is particularly remarkable. “Efforts to have China abide by rules should be made.” First, to which “rules” should China be made abide? Obviously, the JCP means the rules of international law. Actually, this is the same slogan which the imperialist governments of the U.S. and Japan are raising as they want to contain China’s influence in the East China as well as the South China Sea. Secondly, how should China be “made abide the rules”? Again, this can mean nothing but appeals to the “international community” – i.e. imperialist Great Powers and the institutions which they dominate (like the United Nations or the International Court of Justice).

 

In short, this statement reflects once more that the Stalinist JCP is a party committed to the patriotic defense of the imperialist motherland and the imperialist world order. This is why Marxists characterize such parties as social-imperialist.

 

 

 

A government party in waiting

 

 

 

Such loyalty to its imperialist motherland is nothing new for the JCP. It has consistently defended such a program since 1945. However, statements such as the one mentioned above, are not only published to make people aware of the party’s policy. They have also an additional purpose.

 

The JCP is one of the largest Stalinist parties in the world with an official membership of 270,000 and electoral results of 8-11% in the past decade. Japan’s domestic policy is in deep crisis. Japan’s economy is trapped in stagnation since the early 1990’s. It’s ruling class is divided about the role of the state in a radical changing and highly tumultuous global order. The country remains under the domination of the LDP – the ruling conservative party which dominated nearly all governments in Japan since 1945. But this government is neither strong nor stable as the recent resignation of Yoshihide Suga as prime minister after only one year in power demonstrates. There is a realistic possibility that the LDP will suffers splits and electoral defeat in the next period.

 

Under such conditions, the JCP could become part of a future coalition government. All policy statements of the JCP should be viewed as part of a strategy to make the party an acceptable component of a future government serving the interests of Nippon’s monopoly bourgeoisie.

 

In a recently published pamphlet, we have characterized such Stalinist parties as “servants of two masters”. [8] They criticize the traditional domination of global affairs by U.S. imperialism and oppose its Cold War against China. Thereby, they aid the interests of Chinese imperialism. [9] At the same time, they advocate the interests of its own imperialist “motherland”, i.e. they serve the monopoly bourgeoisie at home.

 

The RCIT and all consistent Marxists oppose any support for imperialist Great Powers. The U.S., China, the EU, Russia, Japan, or smaller imperialist states – all these powers are enemies of the international working class and the oppressed peoples! [10] The task of revolutionaries is to oppose all these powers and to work towards defeating them so that humanity can face a socialist future without exploitation and oppression!

 

 

 



[1] The RCIT has published numerous documents about the inter-imperialist rivalry of the Great Powers. Various works on this issue can be found at this sub-page: https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/china-russia-as-imperialist-powers/. See also our numerous documents on the Global Trade War which have been collected at a special sub-page on our website: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/collection-of-articles-on-the-global-trade-war/. In particular, we refer to our book by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. The Factors behind the Accelerating Rivalry between the U.S., China, Russia, EU and Japan. A Critique of the Left’s Analysis and an Outline of the Marxist Perspective, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/anti-imperialism-in-the-age-of-great-power-rivalry/. Our latest pamphlet on the Cold War between the Great Powers is by the same author: “A Really Good Quarrel”. US-China Alaska Meeting: The Inter-Imperialist Cold War Continues, 23 March 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/us-china-alaska-meeting-shows-continuation-of-inter-imperialist-cold-war/.

[2] See on this e.g. RCIT: The Meaning of the AUKUS Pact. The U.S. escalates the inter-imperialist Cold War against China and provokes the EU, 18 September 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/the-meaning-of-the-aukus-pact/

[3] See on this e.g. Chapter III in the RCIT document: World Perspectives 2021-22: Entering a Pre-Revolutionary Global Situation, 22 August 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2021-22/

[4] JCP: The quad is 'quasi-military alliance', 26 September 2021, https://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/index.php?id=13770

[5] See on this e.g. Michael Pröbsting: No to chauvinist war-mongering by Japanese and Chinese imperialism! 23.9.2012, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/no-war-between-china-and-japan/

[6] For all the relevant quotes and sources see Michael Pröbsting: Dogfight among Social-Imperialists. A telling attack on the Chinese regime by the Japanese Communist Party, 14 February 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/dogfight-among-social-imperialists-japanese-vs-chinese-communist-party/ as well as pp. 276-281 in the above-mentioned book Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry.

[7] All quotes are from the official JCP program which has been confirmed by the party latest congress at the beginning of 2020. Program of the Japanese Communist Party, Adopted on January 17, 2004 at the JCP 23rd Congress, Revised on January 18, 2020 at the JCP 28th Congress, http://www.jcp.or.jp/english/jcpcc/blog/2020/01/program-of-the-jcp.html;

[8] Michael Pröbsting: Servants of Two Masters. Stalinism and the New Cold War between Imperialist Great Powers in East and West, 10 July 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/servants-of-two-masters-stalinism-and-new-cold-war/

[9] The RCIT has published numerous documents about capitalism in China and its transformation into a Great Power. See on this e.g. our above-mentioned book by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. See also by the same author an essay published in the second edition of The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism (edited by Immanuel Ness and Zak Cope), Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020, https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-91206-6_179-1; China‘s transformation into an imperialist power. A study of the economic, political and military aspects of China as a Great Power (2012), in: Revolutionary Communism No. 4, http://www.thecommunists.net/publications/revcom-number-4; How is it possible that some Marxists still Doubt that China has Become Capitalist? (A Critique of the PTS/FT), An analysis of the capitalist character of China’s State-Owned Enterprises and its political consequences, 18 September 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/pts-ft-and-chinese-imperialism-2/; Unable to See the Wood for the Trees (PTS/FT and China). Eclectic empiricism and the failure of the PTS/FT to recognize the imperialist character of China, 13 August 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/pts-ft-and-chinese-imperialism/; China’s Emergence as an Imperialist Power (Article in the US journal 'New Politics'), in:  “New Politics”, Summer 2014 (Vol:XV-1, Whole #: 57)

[10] For our programmatic approach on inter-imperialist conflicts see e.g. RCIT: Theses on Revolutionary Defeatism in Imperialist States, 8 September 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/theses-on-revolutionary-defeatism-in-imperialist-states/; see also chapters XVI to XX in the above-mentioned book by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry.

 

일본 스탈린주의 애국자들의 “중국 패권주의” 비난

일공의 민족자주/조국방어와 · 제국주의 신냉전

 

미하엘 프뢰브스팅, 혁명적 공산주의인터내셔널 (RCIT) 국제서기, 2021 10 7, www.thecommunists.net

 

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얼마 , 일본공산당은 최근의 · 냉전 고조에 대한 성명을 발표했다.[1] 일공은 쿼드 동맹 (미국, 일본, 인도, 호주) 함께 오커스 동맹[2] 군사주의적 성격을 규탄했다.[3] 일공은 서방 세력이 잦아지는 군사 활동으로 "중국과의 긴장을 높일 "이라고 경고했다.[4]

 

그러면서도 일공은 관련 강대국들의 제국주의적 성격에 대해서나, 군사주의에 반대하는 투쟁에서 사회주의자들이 무엇을 해야 하는지에 대해서나 한마디도 하지 않고 있다. 같은 군사주의 규탄·경고 발언은 무력한 평화주의에 자신의 몸을 붙들어 매어놓은 스탈린주의 당으로부터 기대할 있는 표준 서사다.

 

그러나 성명의 마지막 문장은 스탈린주의 당의 부르주아적 전략을 보여주고 있다는 점에서 주목할 만하다. “중국 패권주의를 막기 위해서는 중국 포위 아니라 중국이 참여하는 틀의 '개입' 필요하다. 중국이 규범을 준수하도록 만들기 위한 노력이 필요하다.”

 

 

 

부르주아 질서에 바친 스탈린주의

 

일공의 강령과 역사에 익숙한 사람들에게는 문장들이 내포하고 있는 것이 무엇인지 어렵지 않게 다가온다. 첫째, 일공은 평화를 애호한다. 그러나 일공은 (제국주의) 모국을 훨씬 애호한다. 중국을 "패권주의"라고 비난하는 이유다. 우리가 지난 문서들에서 보여주었듯이, 일공은 센카쿠열도/댜오위다오와 같은, 일본이 지배하고 있지만 중국이 영유권을 주장하고 있는 섬들에 대해 자주 내걸고 섬들 방어 촉구한다. 일공은 독도나 쿠릴 열도 같은, 일본이 영유권을 주장하지만 다른 인접 국가들 ( 한국, 러시아) 지배하고 있는 섬들의 반환을 요구한다.[6]

 

동시에 일공은 일본의 제국주의적 성격을 인정하길 견결히 거부한다. 반대로 일공은 미국이 일본의 주권과 독립을 유린하고 있으므로 일본은 "종속국"이라고 주장한다. 그리하여 일공은 "일본의 진정한 자주독립 회복" 강령으로 걸고 있다. 이것은 사실상 일본 제국주의 강화 요구 강령이다. 일본 독점 부르주아지가 미국의 제약으로부터 자유로워지도록 일본 제국주의를 강화하자는 요구다.

 

마지막 문장은 특히 주목할 만하다. "중국이 규범을 준수하도록 만들기 위한 노력이 필요하다." 첫째, 어느 "규범" 중국이 준수해야 한다는 것인가? 명백하게도, 일공이 말하는 규범은 국제법의 규범이다. 실제로 국제규범 준수 · 제국주의 정부가 남중국해와 동중국해에서 중국의 영향력을 억제하길 원할 내거는 바로 동일한 슬로건이다. 둘째, 어떻게 중국이 규범을 준수하도록 만들겠다는 것인가? 역시도, 이것은 "국제사회", 제국주의 강대국들과 그들이 지배하는 기관들 (유엔이나 국제사법재판소 같은) 호소하자는 것이다.

 

한마디로 성명은 스탈린주의 일공이 애국주의적 민족자주와 제국주의 조국 방어/ 제국주의 세계질서 방어를 강령적 공약으로 걸고 거기에 헌신하는 당임을 다시 비춰준다. 맑스주의자들이 같은 당들을 사회제국주의 세력으로 성격규정 하는 이유다.

 

 

 

대기 중인 집권당

 

제국주의 조국에 대한 같은 충성심은 일공에게 새로운 것이 아니다. 일공은 1945 이래로 이러한 민족자주/조국방어 강령을 일관되게 견지해왔다. 그러나 위에서 언급한 것과 같은 발언들은 단지 당의 정책을 사람들에게 알리기 위한 목적만 있는 것이 아니다. 추가적인 목적이 있다.

 

일공은 지난 10년간 공식 당원 27 , 평균 선거 득표율 8-11% 세계 최대 스탈린주의 당이다. 일본 국내정치는 깊은 위기에 처해 있다. 일본 경제는 1990년대 초반 이래로 정체의 덫에 갇혔다. 일본 지배계급은 급격히 요동치고 있는 글로벌 질서 속에서 일본 자본가 국가의 위상과 역할을 놓고 깊이 분열되어 있다. 자민당이 1945 이후 빼고 줄곧 집권하고 있지만, 최근에 총리 스가 요시히데가 1 만에 사임한 데서 보듯 자민당 정부는 취약하고 불안정하다. 자민당이 다음 시기에 분열과 선거 패배를 겪을 가능성이 현실적으로 존재한다.

 

이런 조건에서 일공은 미래 연립정부의 일부가 수도 있다. 일공의 모든 정책 발언들은 자신을 일본 독점 부르주아지가 받아들일 있는 당으로 만들기 위한 전략의 일부로 봐야 한다. 일공은 일본 독점자본의 이해에 봉사하는 미래 정부의 건실한 일원이 있음을 보여주기 위해 같은 조국방어 발언들을 의식적으로 배치하고 있는 것이다.

 

최근 팜플렛에서 우리는 그러한 스탈린주의 당들을 " 주인을 섬기는 시종"으로 성격규정 했다.[8] 상전의 종복들은 전통적인 제국주의 주도 글로벌 질서를 비판하며, 미국의 대중(對中) 냉전에 반대한다. 그렇게 함으로써 따까리들은 중국 제국주의의 이익을 돕는다.[9] 동시에 이들 따까리 스탈린주의 당들은 제국주의 조국 이익을 옹호한다. 독점 부르주아지를 섬긴다.

 

RCIT 비롯한 모든 일관된 맑스주의자들은 제국주의 강대국들에 대한 어떠한 지지도 반대한다. · · EU · · , 또는 밖의 한국이나 호주 같은 보다 작은 제국주의 국가도 포함하여, 모든 열강들은 국제 노동자계급 · 피억압인민의 적이다![10] 프롤레타리아 혁명가들의 임무는 인류가 착취와 억압 없는 사회주의 미래를 맞이할 있도록 이들 열강 모두에 반대하며, 이들 열강 간의 제국주의 패권경쟁을, 나아가 제국주의 전쟁을 지배계급에 대항하는 내란으로, 사회주의를 위한 계급전쟁으로 전화시키는 있다. 일본에서, 중국에서, 그리고 한국에서 이것이 진정한 사회주의자들의 임무다!

 

 

 

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[1] RCIT 강대국들 제국주의 패권쟁투에 관한 많은 문서를 냈다. 다음 링크로 들어가서 문서들을 있다. https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/china-russia-as-imperialist-powers/. 세계무역전쟁에 관한 다음의 우리 문서들도 보라. https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/collection-of-articles-on-the-global-trade-war/. 특히 다음 책을 독자들께 권한다. Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. The Factors behind the Accelerating Rivalry between the U.S., China, Russia, EU and Japan. A Critique of the Left’s Analysis and an Outline of the Marxist Perspective, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/anti-imperialism-in-the-age-of-great-power-rivalry/ [<<강대국 패권쟁투 시대에 반제국주의>> https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/book-anti-imperialism-in-the-age-of-great-power-rivalry/]. 냉전에 관한 우리의 가장 최근 팜플렛도 보라. 같은 저자: “A Really Good Quarrel”. US-China Alaska Meeting: The Inter-Imperialist Cold War Continues, 23 March 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/us-china-alaska-meeting-shows-continuation-of-inter-imperialist-cold-war/ [<제국주의 냉전은 어떻게 바이든 하에서도 계속되고 있나> https://www.thecommunists.net/.../us-china-cold-war.../]

 

[2] 이에 대해서는 다음을 보라. RCIT: The Meaning of the AUKUS Pact. The U.S. escalates the inter-imperialist Cold War against China and provokes the EU, 18 September 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/.../the-meaning-of-the.../ [<오커스 조약의 의미> https://www.thecommunists.net/.../the-meaning-of-the.../...]

 

[3] 이에 대해서는 다음을 보라. Chapter III in the RCIT document: World Perspectives 2021-22: Entering a Pre-Revolutionary Global Situation, 22 August 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/.../world-perspectives.../ [<세계 정세전망 2021-22: 혁명적 세계정세 진입> https://www.thecommunists.net/.../world-perspectives.../...]

 

[4] JCP: The quad is 'quasi-military alliance', 26 September 2021, https://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/index.php?id=13770

 

[5] 이에 대해서는 다음을 보라. Michael Pröbsting: No to chauvinist war-mongering by Japanese and Chinese imperialism! 23.9.2012, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/no-war-between-china-and-japan/

 

[6] 모든 관련 인용과 출처는, 다음을 보라. Michael Pröbsting: Dogfight among Social-Imperialists. A telling attack on the Chinese regime by the Japanese Communist Party, 14 February 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/dogfight-among-social-imperialists-japanese-vs-chinese-communist-party/ [<사회제국주의자들 간의 난투극 - 일본공산당이 중국 정권을 대놓고 까다> https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/dogfight-among-social-imperialists/]. 그리고 위에서 언급한 Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry pp. 276-281 보라.

 

[7] 모든 인용문은 2020 초의 가장 최근 대회에서 통과된 공식 일본공산당 강령에서 따온 것이다. Adopted on January 17, 2004 at the JCP 23rd Congress, Revised on January 18, 2020 at the JCP 28th Congress, http://www.jcp.or.jp/english/jcpcc/blog/2020/01/program-of-the-jcp.html;

 

[8] Michael Pröbsting: Servants of Two Masters. Stalinism and the New Cold War between Imperialist Great Powers in East and West, 10 July 2021, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/servants-of-two-masters-stalinism-and-new-cold-war/ [< 주인을 섬기는 시종, 스탈린주의와 제국주의 신냉전> https://www.thecommunists.net/.../servants-of-two.../...]

 

[9] RCIT 중국 자본주의와 중국의 제국주의 강대국 전화에 관한 많은 문서를 발표했다. 이에 대해서는 다음을 보라. Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. The Factors behind the Accelerating Rivalry between the U.S., China, Russia, EU and Japan. A Critique of the Left’s Analysis and an Outline of the Marxist Perspective, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, Chapter I, https://www.thecommunists.net/.../anti-imperialism-in.../ [<<강대국 패권쟁투 시대에 반제국주의>> https://www.thecommunists.net/.../book-anti-imperialism.../]; 같은 저자의 다음 책에 실린 글도 보라. the second edition of The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism (edited by Immanuel Ness and Zak Cope), Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020, https://link.springer.com/.../10.1007%2F978-3-319-91206-6...; China‘s transformation into an imperialist power. A study of the economic, political and military aspects of China as a Great Power (2012), in: Revolutionary Communism No. 4, http://www.thecommunists.net/publications/revcom-number-4; How is it possible that some Marxists still Doubt that China has Become Capitalist? (A Critique of the PTS/FT), An analysis of the capitalist character of China’s State-Owned Enterprises and its political consequences, 18 September 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/.../pts-ft-and-chinese.../; Unable to See the Wood for the Trees (PTS/FT and China). Eclectic empiricism and the failure of the PTS/FT to recognize the imperialist character of China, 13 August 2020, https://www.thecommunists.net/.../pts-ft-and-chinese.../; China’s Emergence as an Imperialist Power (Article in the US journal 'New Politics'), in: “New Politics”, Summer 2014 (Vol:XV-1, Whole #: 57)

 

[10] 제국주의 분쟁에 관한 우리의 강령적 접근법으로는, 다음을 보라. RCIT: Theses on Revolutionary Defeatism in Imperialist States, 8 September 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/.../theses-on.../ [<제국주의 국가에서의 혁명적 패전주의에 관한 테제> https://www.thecommunists.net/.../theses-on.../; 다음도 보라. chapters XVI to XX in the above-mentioned book by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry.