Down with the Imperialist Trade War between Japan and South Korea!
Down with all chauvinist boycott campaigns! Class War instead of Trade War!
Joint Statement of the Revolutionary Communists of South Korea and the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT), 19 July 2019, www.thecommunists.net
한국어/Korean: https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/trade-war-between-japan-and-south-korea/
1. A new trade war is looming between two imperialist powers in Asia – Japan and South Korea. Last year, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled that Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker, is obliged to pay nearly $90,000 to a surviving worker, and to the families of three other Koreans forced into labor during World War II. Other judgments against Japanese companies for forced labor claims have followed, and more cases are in South Korean courts. Tokyo rejects these claims and threatens to launch a trade war against South Korea. On July 1, citing supposed “national security concerns”, it placed restrictions on exports to South Korea of three chemical materials crucial for the manufacture of semiconductors and screens used in smartphones and televisions. Since Korean corporations like Samsung, SK Hynix and LG Display – which are major players in the global technology industry – rely heavily on these materials, this could have dramatic consequences. Furthermore, Japan considers removing South Korea from a list of the country’s preferred trading partners, which would require Japanese firms to obtain additional export verifications on hundreds of products before selling them to Korean companies. In response, initiatives have been launched in South Korea to boycott Japanese commodities.
2. There can be no doubt that Korean citizens (and their families) who survived the Japan’s barbaric regime of forced labor and sex slavery imposed during World War II have a right of compensation. However, it is also evident that these legitimate claims are only a pretext for the escalation of rivalry between the two countries. If the South Korean state would have been seriously interested in getting compensation for its citizens why is it acting only now – nearly 75 years after these tragic events took place? The reason is obvious: in the decades after World War II, South Korea and Japan were closely bound together as politically subordinated allies of U.S. imperialism in the Cold War. In the past as well as today, the legitimate interests of the Korean citizens have been subordinated to the political goals of the ruling class!
3. However, today we are living in a different historic period marked by the decay of capitalism and the resulting acceleration of rivalry between the imperialist powers. Russia and, in particular, China have emerged as new Great Powers which are challenging the hegemony of U.S. imperialism. As a result, we are witnessing a Global Trade War and military threats between Washington and Beijing, accelerating tensions between the U.S. and the EU, between the U.S. and India, a massive military intervention of Moscow in Syria, etc. The looming trade war between Japan and South Korea is another example of the same fundamental dynamic of capitalist decay and imperialist rivalry.
4. Japan is a long-standing imperialist power which played already a central role in global politics before World War II. Economically, it is one of the strongest imperialist powers behind the U.S. and China. Consequently, authentic Marxists recognize the imperialist character of Japan and stand in fundamental opposition to it. Hence, we strongly denounce the Stalinist Japanese Communist Party which defends since many decades “Japan’s sovereignty” against the U.S. as well as all of Japan’s territorial claims against Russia, China and South Korea. No doubt, the JCP is not a communist but a social-imperialist party!
5. South Korea’s capitalism has been transformed into a junior imperialist state more recently. Nevertheless, while the U.S. continues to play an influential role in South Korean politics, the South Korean chaebols have joined the league of global leading monopolies and participate in the super-exploitation of numerous semi-colonial countries. Despite a population of only 51 million people, South Korea’s economy is the fourth-largest in Asia and the 11th largest in the world. Its Per Capita Gross Domestic Product is close to the level of Italy. In the ranking of the biggest monopolies in the world, South Korea is No.5 (Forbes Global 2000) respectively No.7 (Fortune Global 500). There can be no doubt that South Korea has become an imperialist nation. Hence, we strongly denounce the Stalinists who claim that the South Korea is still an “oppressed” country and that socialists should fight for its “national liberation”. In an imperialist country like South Korea, “national liberation” means nothing but social-patriotic support for the domestic imperialist monopoly bourgeoisie!
6. The Revolutionary Communists of South Korea and the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT) call socialists in South Korea and Japan as well as internationally to unite in denouncing the looming trade war between Tokyo and Seoul. We oppose all forms of chauvinism and boycott campaigns. Such reactionary campaigns only serve to subordinate the workers behind the ruling class. We call for international unity of the workers of South Korea, Japan and globally. We stand for the Leninist program of revolutionary defeatism which is based on the principle “The main enemy is at home!”
* Down with the imperialist trade war between Japan and South Korea!
* No to chauvinism and boycott campaigns! For internationalist unity of the South Korean and Japanese workers!
* Internationalist workers unity instead of nationalist unity with the bosses!
* Class War instead of Trade War!
* * * * *
We refer readers to the following documents:
Korea: There Is No Peace Without Overthrowing Imperialism and the Rule of Capital! Peace through the Proletarian Socialist Revolution! Joint Statement of the Revolutionary Communists of South Korea and the RCIT, 8 March 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/rcit/joint-statement-on-south-korean-imperialism/ [The Korean-language version of the statement can be read here: https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/joint-statement-on-south-korean-imperialism/; See also http://go.jinbo.net/commune/view.php?board=cool&id=51945&page=1]
Global Trade War: No to Great Power Jingoism in West and East! Neither Imperialist Globalization nor Imperialist Protectionism! For International Solidarity and Joint Struggle of the Working Class and Oppressed People! 4 July 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/rcit/joint-statement-on-the-looming-global-trade-war/
See also the collection of statements and articles on the Global Trade War here: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/collection-of-articles-on-the-global-trade-war/.
홍수천: 한반도 전쟁 위기와 미·중 제국주의 패권 쟁투 (Hong Su-Cheon: War Crisis on the Korean Peninsula and the Rivaly between US and Chinese Imperialism, Article in Korean language, Spring 2019), https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/crisis-on-korean-peninsula-us-and-chinese-imperialism/
홍수천: 현 시기 격화하고 있는 제국주의 패권쟁투와 사회주의자의 임무 (Hong Su-Cheon: The Acceleration of the Great Power Rivalry in the Present Period and the Task of Socialists in Korea, Article in Korean language, March 2019), https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/struggle-for-imperialist-hegemony-socialism/
Michael Pröbsting: The Korean Peninsula: Imperialist Aggression, Capitalist Restoration and Revolutionary Defensism (Chapter VI. in World Perspectives 2018: A World Pregnant with Wars and Popular Uprisings), https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2018/
한·일 제국주의 무역전쟁 분쇄!
모든 배외주의·민족주의 보이콧 캠페인 반대!
무역전쟁이 아니라 계급전쟁으로 나아가자!
남한 혁명적 공산주의자 · 혁명적 공산주의인터내셔널 동맹 (RCIT) 공동성명, 2019년 7월 19일, www.thecommunists.net
English: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/asia/trade-war-between-japan-and-south-korea/
1. 일본의 한국에 대한 수출 규제로 또 하나의 제국주의적 무역전쟁이 불붙었다. 일본이 수출 규제한 3개 화학품목은 삼성전자, SK하이닉스, LG디스플레이 같은 한국 기업의 반도체·디스플레이 생산에 필수적인 소재들로서 당장 한국 제국주의 독점자본에는 큰 타격이 될 수밖에 없다. 나아가 일본은 한국을 이른바 안보상의 우방국가인 ‘화이트 국가’ 리스트에서 제외시키겠다고 예고하며 첨단소재 및 전자 분야를 중심으로 수출 규제를 대폭 확대할 기세다. 이에 대한 대응으로 한국에선 일본제품 불매운동이 번지고 있다.
2. 한국에서 정부와 자본은 이를 “강제징용 배상 판결에 대한 경제보복”이라며 강력한 대응을 천명하고 있다. 그러나 일본의 수출 규제가 단순히 강제징용 판결에 대한 보복을 넘어 라이벌 한국 자본을 견제하고 타격하기 위한 무역전쟁, 첨단기술전쟁이라는 것은 문재인 정부도, 남한 독점자본도 다 알고 있다. 자본 간 전쟁, 제국주의 독점자본 간 경제전쟁을 국익이 걸린 문제로 포장하여 남한 인민 속에서 배외주의적·애국주의적 보이콧 캠페인을 불러일으키겠다는 계산이다.
3. 오늘 세계는 배외주의와 국수주의, 애국주의가 창궐하고 있다. 2008년 대공황 이래 자본주의 쇠퇴가 가속화하고 있고 그에 따라 제국주의 열강 간의 패권쟁투도 더욱 격화하고 있다. 러시아와, 특히 중국이 미 제국주의의 패권에 도전하는 새로운 강대국으로 부상했다. 그 한 결과로 우리는 현 미·중 간 세계무역전쟁과 군사적 긴장 고조를 목도하고 있다. 한·일 간 무역전쟁은 자본주의 쇠퇴와 제국주의 패권쟁투의 그 동일한 근본 모순이 작동하는 또 하나의 사례에 다름 아니다.
4. 2차 세계대전 이전부터 이미 제국주의 강대국인 일본은 현재 경제적으로도 미·중 다음으로 강력한 제국주의 열강 중 하나다. 따라서 전 세계의 사회주의자들은 일본의 제국주의적 성격을 인정하고 일본 제국주의에 대한 근본적 반대 입장에 서야 한다. 이에 우리는 일본을 제국주의로 인정하지 않는 스탈린주의 일본공산당(JCP)을 강력히 비난하는 바다. 일본공산당은 수십 년 전부터 미국에 대한 “일본의 자주권”을 내걸고 ‘조국방어’ 입장을 취하고 있을 뿐만 아니라, 러시아·중국·한국에 대한 일본의 영유권 주장도 옹호하고 있다. 명백히 일본공산당은 공산주의 당이 아니라 사회제국주의 당이다!
5. 한국 자본주의는 이미 2000년대 이후 제국주의로 전화했다. 계속해서 미국이 남한 정치에서 영향력을 행사하고 있지만, 남한 재벌은 세계 주요 독점체들 리그에 합류하여 많은 반식민지 나라들에 대한 초과착취에 참가해왔다. 전 세계 상위 2000대 독점 대기업 순위에서 남한은 미국 중국 일본 영국에 이어 5위이며 (2019년 포브스 글로벌 2000), 500대 순위에서 7위를 점하고 있다 (포춘 글로벌 500). 또 5,100만 명 수준의 인구에도 불구하고 한국은 아시아에서 4대 경제국이고 세계에서 11대 경제국이다. 일인당 GDP도 이탈리아를 거의 넘어서고 있다. 한국이 제국주의 국가가 되었다는 것은 의심의 여지가 있을 수 없다. 따라서 우리는 남한이 여전히 피억압 “종속국”, “(반)식민지”라며 “민족해방”, “자주”을 위해 투쟁해야 한다고 주장하는 스탈린주의자들을 강력히 규탄한다. 남한 제국주의를 축소은폐하고 면죄부를 주며, 남한 제국주의에 대한 투쟁으로부터 노동자계급을 유리시키려는 노동운동 내 민족주의 · 사회배외주의 세력을 강력히 규탄한다. 남한 같은 제국주의 나라에서 “민족해방”이란 남한 제국주의 독점 부르주아지에 대한 사회애국주의적 지지에 다름 아니다.
한·일 자본 간 제국주의적 무역전쟁을 “일본의 제국주의 공세”라고 축소은폐하며, “일본 제국주의에 항의하는 운동을 건설하는 데 힘을 쏟아야 한다”고 주장하는 자칭 ‘사회주의 좌파’가 있다. 이들 역시 노동자계급을 남한 정부·자본과의 투쟁으로부터 유리시키는 은폐된 민족주의 세력으로, 그 “민족해방” 추수주의 본질을 현재 격화하고 있는 제국주의 패권쟁투 국면에서 다시 드러내고 있다.
6. 남한 혁명적 공산주의자들과 혁명적 공산주의인터내셔널 동맹 (RCIT)은 한국과 일본, 그리고 전 세계의 사회주의자들에게 한 목소리로 한·일 간 현 무역전쟁을 규탄할 것을 요구한다. 우리는 모든 형태의 배외주의와 애국주의적·민족주의적 보이콧 캠페인에 반대한다. 그러한 반동적 캠페인은 오직 노동자를 자본가 지배계급에 종속시키는 데 봉사할 뿐이다. 우리는 한국과 일본, 그리고 전 세계적으로 노동자의 국제적 단결을 요구한다. 우리는 “주적은 국내에 있다”는 원칙에 입각한 레닌주의적인 혁명적 패전주의 강령을 옹호한다.
* 한·일 간 제국주의적 무역전쟁 분쇄!
* 일체의 배외주의 반대! 민족주의적 보이콧 캠페인 반대! 한·일 노동자의 국제주의적 통일 단결!
* 정부·자본과의 민족주의적 단결이 아니라 국제주의적 노동자 단결!
* 무역전쟁이 아니라 계급전쟁으로 나아가자!
* * * * *
독자들에게 다음 문서들을 함께 읽어볼 것을 권한다.
한반도 : 제국주의와 자본의 지배를 타도하지 않고는 평화는 없다! <남한의 혁명적 공산주의자들 · 혁명적 공산주의 국제 동맹(RCIT)의 공동성명> 2019년 3월 8일
또 http://go.jinbo.net/commune/view.php?board=cool&id=51945&page=1]
Global Trade War: No to Great Power Jingoism in West and East! Neither Imperialist Globalization nor Imperialist Protectionism! For International Solidarity and Joint Struggle of the Working Class and Oppressed People! 4 July 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/rcit/joint-statement-on-the-looming-global-trade-war/
세계무역전쟁에 관한 성명 및 논설을 모아놓은 다음 섹션도 보라.: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/collection-of-articles-on-the-global-trade-war/
홍수천: 한반도 전쟁 위기와 미·중 제국주의 패권 쟁투 (Hong Su-Cheon: War Crisis on the Korean Peninsula and the Rivaly between US and Chinese Imperialism, Article in Korean language, Spring 2019), https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/crisis-on-korean-peninsula-us-and-chinese-imperialism/
홍수천: 현 시기 격화하고 있는 제국주의 패권쟁투와 사회주의자의 임무 (Hong Su-Cheon: The Acceleration of the Great Power Rivalry in the Present Period and the Task of Socialists in Korea, Article in Korean language, March 2019), https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/struggle-for-imperialist-hegemony-socialism/
Michael Pröbsting: The Korean Peninsula: Imperialist Aggression, Capitalist Restoration and Revolutionary Defensism (Chapter VI. in World Perspectives 2018: A World Pregnant with Wars and Popular Uprisings), https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2018/
Nieder mit dem imperialistischen Handelskrieg zwischen Japan und Südkorea!
Nieder mit allen chauvinistischen Boykottkampagnen! Klassenkampf statt Handelskrieg!
Gemeinsame Erklärung der Revolutionären Kommunisten Südkoreas und der Revolutionären Kommunistischen Internationalen Tendenz (RCIT), 19. Juli 2019, www.thecommunists.net
한국어/Koreanisch: https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/Handelskrieg zwischen Japan und Südkorea/
1. Zwischen zwei imperialistischen Mächten in Asien - Japan und Südkorea - zeichnet sich ein neuer Handelskrieg ab. Im vergangenen Jahr entschied der südkoreanische Oberste Gerichtshof, dass Nippon Steel, Japans größter Stahlproduzent, verpflichtet ist, fast 90.000 Dollar an einen überlebenden Arbeiter und an die Familien von drei weiteren Koreanern zu zahlen, die während des Zweiten Weltkriegs zur Zwangsarbeit verpflichtet wurden. Andere Urteile gegen japanische Unternehmen wegen Zwangsarbeitsansprüchen sind erfolgt, und weitere Verfahren finden vor südkoreanischen Gerichten statt. Tokio weist diese Anklagen zurück und droht, einen Handelskrieg gegen Südkorea zu beginnen. Am 1. Juli beschränkte Japan unter Berufung auf angebliche "nationale Sicherheitsbedenken" die Ausfuhr von drei chemischen Stoffen nach Südkorea, die für die Herstellung von Halbleitern und Bildschirmen für Smartphones und Fernseher entscheidend sind. Da koreanische Unternehmen wie Samsung, SK Hynix und LG Display - die zu den Hauptakteuren in der globalen Technologiebranche gehören - stark auf diese Materialien angewiesen sind, könnte dies dramatische Folgen haben. Darüber hinaus erwägt Japan, Südkorea von einer Liste der bevorzugten Handelspartner des Landes zu streichen, was bedeuten würde, dass japanische Unternehmen zusätzliche Ausfuhrprüfungen für Hunderte von Waren einholen müssten, bevor sie diese an koreanische Unternehmen verkaufen. Als Reaktion darauf wurden in Südkorea Initiativen zum Boykott japanischer Rohstoffe gestartet.
2. Es besteht kein Zweifel daran, dass koreanische Bürger (und ihre Familien), die das während des Zweiten Weltkriegs herrschende barbarische japanische Regime der Zwangsarbeit und Sexsklaverei überlebt haben, ein Recht auf Entschädigung haben. Es ist aber auch offensichtlich, dass diese berechtigten Ansprüche nur ein Vorwand für die Eskalation der Rivalität zwischen den beiden Ländern sind. Wenn der südkoreanische Staat ernsthaft daran interessiert gewesen wäre, eine Entschädigung für seine Bürger zu erhalten, warum handelt er dann erst jetzt - fast 75 Jahre nach diesen tragischen Ereignissen? Der Grund liegt auf der Hand: In den Jahrzehnten nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg waren Südkorea und Japan als politisch untergeordnete Verbündete des US-Imperialismus im Kalten Krieg eng miteinander verbunden. In der Vergangenheit wie auch heute wurden die legitimen Interessen der koreanischen Bürger den politischen Zielen der herrschenden Klasse untergeordnet!
3. Heute leben wir jedoch in einer anderen historischen Periode, die durch den Zerfall des Kapitalismus und die daraus resultierende Verschärfung der Rivalität zwischen den imperialistischen Mächten gekennzeichnet ist. Russland und insbesondere China sind zu neuen Großmächten geworden, die die Vorherrschaft des US-Imperialismus in Frage stellen. Infolgedessen erleben wir einen Welthandelskrieg und militärische Drohungen zwischen Washington und Peking, ebenso die Spannungen zwischen den USA und der EU, zwischen den USA und Indien, eine massive militärische Intervention Moskaus in Syrien usw. Der drohende Handelskrieg zwischen Japan und Südkorea ist ein weiteres Beispiel für die gleiche grundlegende Dynamik des kapitalistischen Zerfalls und der inner-imperialistischen Rivalität.
4. Japan ist eine seit langem bestehende imperialistische Macht, die bereits vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg eine zentrale Rolle in der Weltpolitik spielte. Wirtschaftlich gesehen ist sie eine der stärksten imperialistischen Großmächte hinter den USA und China. Folglich erkennen authentische Marxisten den imperialistischen Charakter Japans an und stehen in grundlegender Opposition zu ihm. Daher verurteilen wir entschieden die stalinistische Kommunistische Partei Japans, die seit vielen Jahrzehnten "Japans Souveränität" gegen die USA sowie alle territorialen Ansprüche Japans gegen Russland, China und Südkorea verteidigt. Es ist offensichtlich, dass die JCP keine kommunistische, sondern eine sozial-imperialistische Partei ist!
5. Der Kapitalismus Südkoreas wurde in jüngster Zeit in einen jungen imperialistischen Staat verwandelt. Während die USA weiterhin eine einflussreiche Rolle in der südkoreanischen Politik spielen, haben sich die südkoreanischen Chaebols einen Platz unter den weltweit führenden Monopolen erobert und nehmen an der Überausbeutung zahlreicher halb-kolonialer Länder teil. Trotz einer Bevölkerung von nur 51 Millionen Menschen ist die südkoreanische Wirtschaft die viertgrößte in Asien und die elfgrößte der Welt. Das Bruttoinlandsprodukt pro Kopf liegt nahe am Niveau Italiens. In der Rangliste der größten Monopole der Welt belegt Südkorea Platz 5 (Forbes Global 2000) bzw. Platz 7 (Fortune Global 500). Es besteht kein Zweifel daran, dass Südkorea zu einer imperialistischen Nation geworden ist. Daher verurteilen wir entschieden die Stalinisten, die behaupten, dass Südkorea immer noch ein "unterdrücktes" Land sei und dass Sozialisten für seine "nationale Befreiung" kämpfen sollten. In einem imperialistischen Land wie Südkorea bedeutet "nationale Befreiung" nichts anderes als sozial-patriotische Unterstützung für die einheimische imperialistische Monopolbourgeoisie!
6. Die Revolutionären Kommunisten Südkoreas und die Revolutionär-Kommunistische Internationale Tendenz (RCIT) rufen Sozialisten in Südkorea und Japan sowie international auf, sich zusammenzuschließen und den drohenden Handelskrieg zwischen Tokio und Seoul zu verurteilen. Wir sind gegen alle Formen von Chauvinismus und Boykottkampagnen. Solche reaktionären Kampagnen dienen nur dazu, die Arbeiter der herrschenden Klasse unterzuordnen. Wir fordern die internationale Einheit der Arbeiter Südkoreas, Japans und der Welt. Wir stehen für das leninistische Programm des revolutionären Defätismus, das auf dem Prinzip "Der Hauptfeind steht im eigenen Land" basiert.
* Nieder mit dem imperialistischen Handelskrieg zwischen Japan und Südkorea!
* Nein zu Chauvinismus und Boykottkampagnen! Für die internationalistische Einheit der südkoreanischen und japanischen Arbeiter!
* Internationalistische Arbeiter-Einheit statt nationalistischer Einheit mit den Bossen!
* Klassenkampf statt Handelskrieg!
* * * * *
Wir empfehlen unseren Lesern die folgenden Dokumente:
Korea: There Is No Peace Without Overthrowing Imperialism and the Rule of Capital! Peace through the Proletarian Socialist Revolution! Joint Statement of the Revolutionary Communists of South Korea and the RCIT, 8 March 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/rcit/joint-statement-on-south-korean-imperialism/ [Die koreanische Version der Stellungnahme kann hier gelesen werden: https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/joint-statement-on-south-korean-imperialism/; See also http://go.jinbo.net/commune/view.php?board=cool&id=51945&page=1]
Global Trade War: No to Great Power Jingoism in West and East! Neither Imperialist Globalization nor Imperialist Protectionism! For International Solidarity and Joint Struggle of the Working Class and Oppressed People! 4 July 2018, https://www.thecommunists.net/rcit/joint-statement-on-the-looming-global-trade-war/
Siehe auch die Zusammenstellung von Statements und Artikeln zum globalen Handelskrieg an dieser Stelle: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/collection-of-articles-on-the-global-trade-war/.
홍수천: 한반도 전쟁 위기와 미·중 제국주의 패권 쟁투 (Hong Su-Cheon: War Crisis on the Korean Peninsula and the Rivaly between US and Chinese Imperialism, Artikel in koreanischer Sprache, Spring 2019),https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/crisis-on-korean-peninsula-us-and-chinese-imperialism/
홍수천: 현 시기 격화하고 있는 제국주의 패권쟁투와 사회주의자의 임무 (Hong Su-Cheon: The Acceleration of the Great Power Rivalry in the Present Period and the Task of Socialists in Korea, Artikel in koreanischer Sprache, March 2019), https://www.thecommunists.net/home/%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4/struggle-for-imperialist-hegemony-socialism/
Michael Pröbsting: The Korean Peninsula: Imperialist Aggression, Capitalist Restoration and Revolutionary Defensism (Chapter VI. in World Perspectives 2018: A World Pregnant with Wars and Popular Uprisings), https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2018/