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List of Messages
32. From the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident to the 1999 Kosovo Crisis
--In the memorial of the tenth anniversary of Tiananmen Square Incident (Jing Zhao) June 1,1999
31. The fight against Nato and American imperialism. (Martin) April 28,1999
30. RE:What's to be done in this postmodern society? (Yoshi@SWP) March 8,1999
29. What's to be done in this postmodern society? (Jose Luis) March 8,1999
28. What do you SWP do? (Jose Luis) March 8,1999
27. RE: What is the SWP's oreientation? (Yoshi@SWP) Jan.5,1999
26. What is the SWP's oreientation? (Dave Hough) Jan.5,1999
25. RE^4: About Chinese Revolution (Jing Zhao) Sep.17,1998
24. RE^3: About Chinese Revolution (Satomi@SWP) Sep.16,1998
23. RE^2: About Chinese Revolution (Jing Zhao) Sep.15,1998
22. RE: About Chinese Revolution (Satomi@SWP) Sep.14,1998
21. About Chinese Revolution (Jing Zhao) Sep.4,1998
20. May Day On the Web (The Edmonton May Day Committee) Apr.26,1998
19. RE: About the abortion and the death penality. (Satomi@SWP) Mar.9,1998
18. About the abortion and the death penality. Mar.9,1998
17. I have worked out a way to unify the world. (Joseph Graly) Dec.29,1997
16. I feel the whole tone of your magazine a little rigid. (Jing Zhao) Dec.11,1997
15. America's First Socialist Party (Mark Lause) May.1,1997
14. RE: Where can I get some info on state capitalism in China? (Satomi@SWP) Apr.24,1997
13. Where can I get some info on state capitalism in China? Apr.23,1997
12. The historical fact about the Diaoyu Islands (Yoshi@SWP to Whing Ho) Dec.14,1996
11. Hello Comrades! From the UK Revolutional Communist Party. (James Heartfield) Oct.17,1996
10. What is the differences between SWP and JCP? (Alessandro Barducci@PRC) Sep.22,1996
9. RE: Diao Yu Island is forever a part of China. (Yoshi@SWP) Sep.22,1996
8. Diao Yu Island is forever a part of China. Sep.10,1996
7. RE: How is the situation of Japanese Marxism? (Yoshi@SWP) Sep.7,1996
6. How is the situation of Japanese Marxism? (Jean Christophe) Aug.29,1996
5. About FI, ILC, and the US Labor Party Jul.16,1996
4. RE: About the Workers International Liaison Committee, etc. (Satomi@SWP) Jul.6,1996
3. About the Workers International Liaison Committee, etc. (David Walters) Jul.13,1996
2. RE: How much anger or indifference is there for socialism in Japan? (Satomi@SWP) Jul.6,1996
1. How much anger or indifference is there for socialism in Japan? (Bradley Traynor) Jul.5,1996
Latest Messages
From the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident to the 1999 Kosovo Crisis
--In the memorial of the tenth anniversary of Tiananmen Square Incident (Zhao)June 1,1999
By Jing Zhao, Representative & Research Fellow
US-Japan-China Comparative Policy Research Institute, San Jose
http://members.tripod.com/~cpri/
Email: jzhao@mail.h-net.msu.edu
Although I usually do not read Chinese material, a lot of information on the
ongoing crisis in Yugoslavia, most of it through the Internet, came to me,
especially after the Chinese Embassy bombing. As Ryan Dunch
("Bombings,
Blood Debts, and Mutual Suspicion," _History News Service_, May 26, 1999)
points out: "The events of May 1999 may mark a decisive turning point
toward
mutual suspicion and hostility in the relationship between China and the
United States, with perilous implications for the twenty-first century."
The
"unplanned" bombing puts the unavoidable conflict between Beijing and
the
Washington-Tokyo-Taipei axis much more early than expected. Peoples on
both
sides have not yet prepared for the coming of this situation.
The bombing itself may or may not be an incident, but it is a symbolic
indication of how the Kosovo crisis is related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square
Incident, just ten years ago.
People still remember that soon following the Tiananmen Square Incident, one
after another, most of the world's Socialist regimes collapsed, in an eerie
reversal of the Cold War's "domino theory." Then in 1991 the
first and
greatest of the Socialist state powers, the Soviet Union, astonishingly
annulled itself. The Tiananmen Square Incident became the most powerful
stimulus to accelerate this process.
As shown by great thinkers (such as Peter Kropotkin), a historical reaction
in one place always brings about reactionary responses in other global
settings. It is the Beijing regime?fs crushing of the democracy movement
ten
years ago which helped and encouraged the regimes in Tokyo, Washington,
Taipei and others to utilize the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident to promote
their reactionary policy.
During this process, the Tokyo regime was the first to fully utilize the
Tiananmen Square Incident to pursue its backward militaristic policy because
Japan received most of the shocking impact of the Tiananmen Square Incident.
In the Japanese domestic political structure, the opposition, led by the
Socialist Party, completely collapsed due to their close relations with the
Beijing regime. In the international field, the Tokyo regime exploited the
most advantage when the Beijing regime was isolated from the "international
world" by trading with the Beijing regime on how to handle the fate of
Chinese democratic activists in Japan. This is the darkest time in the
Sino-Japanese relations history since their "normalization" in
1972 As the
Chinese student representative in Osaka area, I witnessed and experienced
this historical change when I became a hostage between the Beijing and Tokyo
regimes after they failed pressing me to betray our democracy movement.
Along with the complete collapse of the "progressive" forces as a real
political entity, the whole politics in all industrialized countries rapidly
shifted toward a conservative, reactionary and militaristic direction.
After
ten years of the Tiananmen Square Incident, the U.S., the sole superpower,
began to implement its imperialist global strategy in most prosperous (Europe
and East Asia) and resourceful (Middle East) areas. While still continuing
its bombing against Iraq in Middle East, the U.S. forced European allies and
Japan to "redefine" the NATO strategy and U.S.-Japanese Security frame
to
transform them from a somewhat "exclusively defense-oriented" (senshu
boei)
regime to an globally aggressive military alliance.
Why did the U.S. present an ultimatum (see, for example, Henry Kissinger ?es
"New World Disorder," _ Newsweek International, May 31, 1999)
demanding
Yugoslavia?fs surrender instead of a comprising negotiation at Rambouilet?
Among others, one important reason is that, through three years political
backward shifting after the 1996 Clinton-Hashimoto Declaration, Japan has
finally finished the process of forwarding the new "Defense
Guidelines." On
April 27 and May 25, Japan?fs House of Representatives and House of Councilors
passed the three Defense Guidelines laws, to ensure that Japan will mobilize
its national resources to support any U.S.-initiated military actions
"surrounding Japan." For the Beijing regime, it is too clear
that China will
become another Iraq or Yugoslavia -- if not the next one which will most
likely be North Korea, though.
For the Beijing regime, though obviously there does exist one option which is
to reverse its policy on the "counter-revolutionary" Tiananmen Square
Incident, it simply could not do so because most of the current ruling class
obtained or maintained their power by the incident. So they have to take
the
remaining choice: to engage China?fs nationalism. For Washington?fs policy
makers and strategists, now they are facing a "new" face of Chinese
youth who
turned their protest from Zhongnanhai to the White House.
List of Messages
The fight against Nato and American imperialism. (Martin) April 28,1999
I wish to extend my support for the internet site that you have so diligently constructed.
Here in Wales there is a real poverty of web sites committed to socialist ideas or platforms for marginal political views.
It was only by chance I came across your efforts and trust that you will continue to spread the message that there is a real socialist alternative.
The British political scene in general, and the Welsh and Scottish more significant are witnessing increasing politicalisation.
This is largely the result of the devolution programmes that will be put before the people of these two countries in the forthcoming elections in early May.
The British SWP has decided to stand in parliamentary elections ostensibly as a tactic of propoganda and to ensure a left wing voice in what promises to be a debate along social democratic lines.
I, for one, believe this represents a betrayal of our revolutionary traditions and am therefore opposed to any form of participation.
The second issue I wish to raise concerns the immoral and untenable position taken by Nato in the Balkans.
The most interesting movement here is the increasiong opposition to American and British involvement.
This extends from the right to the left.
It seems fair to argue that a prolonged campaign against the Serbs and the rise in civilian fatilities(facilities?) will increase public anger and may in fact lead to a situation similair to that in the sixties against the Vietnam War.
As international socialists we must seek to expose the lies of Nato and the Americans.
It is imperative that we argue against Nato involvement and for the right of Kosovan self determination.
And to comrades in Asia we must also have the conviction to fight for the freedom of Tibet and Timor.
If anyone would care to respond or just e- mail than(then?) please do so.
E-mail: 140864@Swansea.ac.uk
List of Messages
RE: What's to be done in this postmodern society? (Yoshi@SWP) March 8,1999
Dear Mr.Luis,
Thank you for your e-mail.
I was samewhat confused to read your e-mail, but I could understand that your are groping something.
The present time may be indeed an era of chaos.
However, is it not because the present time is the era when approaching to the crisis, namely the catastrophe, to be seen to you so?
It is in the condition almost near dismantled in all of economy, society, and nation even in Japan.
However, many peoples are dozing in peace yet although they are holding anxiety, and on the other hand, even the movement like fascism is also sprouting.
We think that we need to coolly analyze such a situation and to appeal about the present contradiction, the society that should come with catching every opportunities.
Our organization is small yet, and the concrete movement is not produced sufficiently.
Although we have participated in some election struggles in the past, we are not participating in it at the present on account of the financial circumstances or others.
The theoretical and concrete analysis of the reality, and advertising and organizing people mainly by means of such as organ paper are the basis of our movement.
Because this is an easy answer I am worring whether you could understand sufficiently about our movement. If you have something not to be able to understand, please send me e-mail again.
Let's fight together.
List of Messages
What's to be done in this postmodern society? (Jose Luis) March 8,1999
The postmodern is the post-mortem of revolutionary contradictions inside our ideological unconscious. following the manifesto (although his kantism) and the marshall berman work (all that is solid melts into air), one can say that the bourgeoisie it's always revolutionary, obviously for its own sake and wealthness. things are changing now. we are living the readjustment of this potential revolutionary tendence. I work in the university and there is impossible to think in terms of what the academics call 'ideology'. be a communist mean 'alienation of the intellect', and all this bunch of 'freethinkers' believe that they are as pure as the mythical greek philosophers that university invented to create the World of Wonders.
by saying that the ruling class is essentially revolutionary i am not saying that the ruled class are not. i say that preciselly because of that revolution is a possibility. 'The ideas of every epoch are always the ideas of the dominant class': so is 1789. is it not why Marx said that:"What the bourgeoisie produces, above all,is its own graves-diggers". we know, nevertheless, what happens with Jacobins and Sans-culottes when all the dirty job is done...
but, as i said, things are changing know. to talk about politics means that you are no less than a cunt,an asshole. is the fundamentalism of the anti-fundamentalist. the Credo prayed every morning in the monasteries of these monks of liberalism. i really do not care if marx was right or not. what i really care is about the 'Intolerable', the unbearable, this europe with 15 millions of people without future, and the rest of the world under the american boot. but the technocrats of Word say that you are sick of communism. if you want to do something inside of this corrupt institution (for corruption : from the reproduction of little fascists to the investment in Arm industry) you have to deal with the Alchemy of language.you cannot say 'class' 'class-struggle' or 'ruling class', because they will tell you that 'there's no such thing as society, but ants, athoms,and bees'.
the individuals with an emancipatiry discourse (feminists, foucauldians, anarchists, etc.) are individuals, and at the end of the day they are the dangerous sceptics of Nostalgia ... this sadness about the Deus absconditus of Foucault... but, at least, they are not organic intellectuals, in Gramsci's terms.
probably i am a petty-bourgeois discontent with the System. I do not know. But time passes and those above are only words. Is this only a problem of 'what's to be done?'
It is for that why i put on the table the bourgeois origin of Struggles for emancipation, in an ideological sense (sorry if i do not begin a bigger argumentation o know it seems a terrible simplification) - how to catch up with non-workers agents and alienated workers if not thinking in this terms? the search for the revolutionary subject may be can begin for the acknowledgment the benefits of the conscience of contradictions. i know many people who 'd be working for revolution. you are fighting for freedom, aren't you? then, it does not matter if you are anarchist,leninist, marxist, trotskist, communist, zapatist, sandinist or every -ist you want. the main issue is the emancipation from the exploitation, from every form of emancipation. the struggleis for a form of society on which everybody would be able to do what it please, except exploiting others.
I'm sorry for the randomness of this i hope to see you soon.
List of Messages
What do you SWP do? (Jose Luis) March 8,1999
My name is not important. I have been thinking in join SWP, but I'd like to know what do you do. i am interested in marxism - but it seems that the political arena is out if our reach today I was talking with a friend about the topic, about the what's to be done i said that you are very aggresive. But may be i am wrong. my problem is inactivity, and probably the what Lenin called 'left-wing communism'. My back-ground is petty-bourgeois, but it seems obvious that i am not proud of this tell me what you do.
List of Messages
RE: What is the SWP's oreientation? (Yoshi@SWP) Jan.5,1999
Mr. Hough,
Thank you for your message to our conversation room!
You can read our orientation on our homepage.
("What kind of Party is the SWP?" "Why and How was the SWP formed?"
you can reach to them from the top page.)
In this 'Conversation Room' you can see the short answer in the List,
"7. RE: How is the situation of Japanese Marxism? (Yoshi@SWP) Sep.7,1996"
Please write your impressions again after reading the document above.
I guess you are now living in Japan on account of your e-mail address.
If so, you can talk with us directly.
With Solidarity,
List of Messages
What is the SWP's oreientation? (Dave Hough) Jan.5,1999
I am a former member of the US Socialist Workers Party (Marxist, Leninist,
Trotskyist) and would like to find out about your orientation.
List of Messages
RE^4: About Chinese Revolution (Jing Zhao) Sep.17,1998
Dear Sotomi,
If I misunderstood the meaning, my apologies.
There were some "wage workers," their situation was better than pure
peasants. Their status was between peasants and city residents. During the
"Great Culture Revolution," the Chinese government could not offer
employment for high school graduate, so their city residence was forcibly
allocated to countryside, but the government said they can return to city
after at least two-year "reeducation" from peasants. Some youth went to
countryside individually, they had not wage, but the government also
allocated these youth collectively to some boader area, these youth were
"wage peasants." They returned cities after Deng Xiaoping took power.
Jing Zhao
List of Messages
RE^3: About Chinese Revolution (Satomi@SWP) Sep.16,1998
Dear Zhao,
I take back what I said. I glanced over the aticle just now and I found
that the author didn't say the peasants under the People's Commune were
wage workers. He just said some peasants were separated from the
People's Commune and became wage workers(industrial workers). He
regarded the peasants as the cooperative peasants who were exploited
terriblly. You insisted that former Chinese peasants were more like
slave and not wage workers and you are right in this point. But I don't
think the author insisted what you took.
Satomi
List of Messages
RE^2: About Chinese Revolution (Jing Zhao) Sep.15,1998
Dear Satomi,
You may be correct to say the Chinese Revolution was a peasant revolution,
this is the reason after the military victory the CCP gave land to
peasants. But the usage of "wage" and "worker," and hence "capitalism,"
caused confusion. My understanding of wage worker in the capitalism (from
Marx) is that they have the freedom to move within a country to sell their
labor in the free market (China now is going this direction) but Chinese
peasants were not allowed to move. The CCP fears that if peasants be
allowed move freely, CCP cannot control, especially during 1960-62.
The political meaning of China's peasant status has not been clearly
understood, than their economic situation. I can only simply think China
similar to the ancient Rome: one class with city residence (koseki) and one
class without.
Let me told one thing: I had a good friend in my middle school, when
graduation, I went to high school because I wanted further go to
university. He was also a clever student but he entered a local technology
school because that school would gave him a job and meanwhile a city
residence right, he was born in countryside without that right.
Jing Zhao
List of Messages
RE: About Chinese Revolution (Satomi@SWP) Sep.14,1998
Dear Zhao,
Thanks for your frank opinion.
Our opinion for former Chinese peasants under
Peaple' Commune was depend on our theory of State Capitalism. We think
that Chinese Revolution was the peasants' revolution = bourgeois
revolution and thus China has been a state capitalist since then either
before 1970's or after 1980's. Therefore we think that former Chinese
peasants under the People's Commune were fundamentally wage workers
although they had no wage, no any other benefits at all. Even wage
workers in Japan are in a sense "wage slaves". Nevertheless we also
have to admit that Chinese Revolution was the peasants' revolution and
they were the winners and the rulers immediately after the revolution
despite they gradually lose their power and became mere workers.
Satomi
List of Messages
About Chinese Revolution (Jing Zhao) Sep.4,1998
Following message is the opinion from a reader about our latest article on Chinese Revolution.
--------------------------------
At first, I should recognize it a greart job, both the original Japanese
writing and its English translation.
The former part of industrialization in cities is a good review, but the
later part of the People's Communes in the countryside is not so
successful, I think.
China's "national flag" is called "five-star red flag," one big star
stands for the Communist Party, the other small stars stand for labor,
peasants, national bourgeoisie and petty-bourgeoisie classes. Certainly,
the four classes never really governed China. The article is correct
here when it points out that China is not a socialist country. However,
is China a capitalist state? I don't know. You can say either yes or no.
In the struggle against Japanese invaders and the KMT regime, the CCP
needed the two bourgeoisie classes; however, whether, and how the two
bourgeoisie classes can survive under the CCP regime, greatly depends on
international situation. The articles does not mention this factor.
Actually, the Korean War accelerated and finally completed the process
of the death of the two bourgeoisie classes. The CCP needed money to
fight and it could not collect money from labor or peasant classes (it
needed labor from them).
In the later part, the article says "The People's Communes gradually
advanced the reddirection of peasant labor from agriculture to industry
and transformation of peasants into wage workers." This is completely
wrong. In fact, under that Commune system, Chinese peasants became farm
slaves, they had no wage, no any other benefits, and even no freedom to
move from their village. Politically, the two bourgeoisie classes were
taken off the flag, but economically, Chinese peasants were the most
exploited people, as in previous history. This is the reason why China's
reform after Mao's death began from countryside. I wrote a book review
of that reform, please refer to it (http://members.tripod.com/~cpri , in
CPR Issue I).
My other comment of the article is beyond the article itself: it may be
a good study literature for discussion or reference, but if it becomes
SWP's guidelines, that is not appreciate.
Jing Zhao
CPRI (http://members.tripod.com/~cpri), San Jose
List of Messages
May Day On the Web (The Edmonton May Day Committee) Apr.26,1998
May Day On the Web 1998.
http://www.accessweb.com/mayday/
email: mayday@accessweb.com
Workers Fight For Human Rights
This site was created to celebrate May Day the International
Working Class Holiday. It is the project of the Edmonton May Day
Committee and sponsored by the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and
the Edmonton District Labour Council which are affiliated with the
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).
The Edmonton May Day Committee is comprised of labour, social and
cultural activists. We are located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
We began this project of reviving May Day activities in
Edmonton, three years ago. Last year we had one of the
largest May Day Parades in Canada. As well as the Parade we sponsored
a Labour Art Show at Latitude 53, an alternative artist run gallery.
This year we continue the tra!dition by holding our annual parade and a
political art show.
We have created this web page to announce our events and to link to
other May Day events that are occurring around the
world and on the World Wide Web (WWW). If you have created a
May Day page for local events, or just to celebrate May Day please link
to our page and send us your URL and we will include it on the page. We
have included a gif and link code for people to add our page to theirs
We hope to create a unique labour mail art show on the Web to
celebrate May Day 1998.
The Edmonton Mayday Committee is sponsoring an e-mail contest on the
web. The theme of the artistic work is Workers Fight For Human Rights.
Your work must be in either JPG or GIF format. For the WWW, the file
size should be no larger than 75K. The resolution should be 72 dpi,
width no larger than 330 pixels, height 220 pixels. All graphics will be
displayed on the Mayday
May Day On the Web 1998.
http://www.accessweb.com/mayday/
email: mayday@accessweb.com
List of Messages
RE: About the abortion and the death penality. (Satomi@SWP) Mar.9,1998
Thank you for your message to this Conversation Room. Of course socialists approve the womens right of abortion. We think that women must work as workers and become independent economically. This is the necessary condition for liberation of women. The cause of womens subordinate position to men is that they are economically subordinate to men. If they need abortion in order to continue their job, we will decisively support their right of abortion. We think workers should not be sentimentalists, they should be realists.
We think workers must not be sentimentalists regarding the death penalty too. Of course, we don't think that the bourgeoisie have the right to sentence death to the people, because, they are the very men to make the conditions to increase a lot of serious crimes amoung people and they are the very men to commit serious crimes by themselves. However socialists don't deny death penalty completely. We reserve the right to sentence death to brutal bourgeois or fasists. We are not the pacifists. We are revolutionalists and will fight against bourgeoisie with arms if bourgeoisie use them beforehand. We are realists also in this case.
Satomi
List of Messages
About the abortion and the death penality. Mar.9,1998
hi im doing a report on the socialist worker party and i need to know where the party stands on the current issues of abortion and the death penality
List of Messages
I have worked out a way to unify the world. (Joseph Graly) Dec.29,1997
Hello. I am Joseph Graly. I want to let the SWP know that it is possible
to end capitalism. Someday we will have a world in which there is no war
starvation or oppression. All forms of inequailty and oppression are linked
to the use of currency. We will have a world in which there is no need for
money and everybody works for the benifit of society. We can end all abuse
of power and bring food work and resources to everybody in the world. I have
worked out a way to unify the world under a radical democratic socialist
system. For detials e-mail me at socialista@juno.com.
List of Messages
I feel the whole tone of your magazine a little rigid. (Jing Zhao) Dec.11,1997
Dear SWP members:
I always read your magazine as an important source for Japanese politics study. I have found
that you offer me a solid observation of current Japanese affairs as well as historical
events. Some book reviews especially fit my appetite.
Let me express some alternative ideas.
I still feel the whole tone of your magazine a little rigid and I am afraid this chracteristic
prevents you from receivng a wider pespective. Last issue an American mentioned Nom Chomsky
with a relatively negative image. I think that is a little unfair to him. His speech gave me
a deep impression for his brave criticism of the US and other state powers. That is the most
great number of audience I met in the US. He also participated into assisting rescuing the
US woman who was arrested for her activity with Peruvian MRTA. As a modern intellectual in the
West, he has done enough.
In this issue, the review of Kamada's book on Osugi is also interesting. I only feel some
words to Osugi are too critical. About the Rusian Revolution, what needed for us should be
an open discussion, rather than just approving it. I myself consider that in the begining,
there are something wrong which influenced the later development.
Nontheless, thank you for offering such an excellent source.
Jing Zhao from San Jose, USA
List of Messages
America's First Socialist Party (Mark Lause) May.1,1997
Happy May Day!
You might want to link your site to the new webpages I am posting on "America's First Socialist Party". It will be a local directory of the various socialist organizations across the US in the 1870s.
The first pages are up at:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Quad/6460/SLP.htm
Yrs,
Mark Lause
University of Cincinnati
List of Messages
RE: Where can I get some info on state capitalism in China? (Satomi@SWP) Apr.24,1997
We posted some article about state capitalism in china on our Home Page. Those are as follows.
- "Socialism" of the Soviet Union and China --- What is the necessity of its transformation to capitalism? --- The 80th Russian revolution anniversary
(From the article of 'Petrel')
- Uplifting the nationalism in China-- it insists on the Senkaku islands owning.
(From the article of 'Petrel')
- The labor dispute increases suddenly in China --- Resist the shifting on of contradiction
(From the article of 'Petrel')
- The wave of the nationalism is high in East China Sea -- The Senkaku islands (Diao Yu islands) problem and The Japan Communist Party -- The one to shout 'Owning right' and to back up government
(From the article of 'Petrel')
- We denounce the nuclear test of China--The nation of Japan is in the same crime--While the nuclear possession is badness, is it good if it is "the umbrella of the nucleus"?
(From the article of 'Petrel')
- China aiming at super-large country--With aiming to avert contradiction to the outside--The one behind "Gunboat" diplomacy
(From the article of 'Petrel')
List of Messages
Where can I get some info on state capitalism in China? Apr.23,1997
excuse me does anyone know where i can get some info on state capitalism in china
List of Messages
The historical fact about the Diaoyu Islands (Yoshi@SWP to Whing Ho) Dec.14,1996
Dear Shum Wing Ho
Time has passed fairly long since we got your mail of protest about the attitude of Japan (the government and the right-wing group, etc.) to the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands problem.
However, our comrade announced the book review of this problem ahead for a while ('Petrel' No.605 “The fact of the history around The Senkaku Islands" --- 'The Senkaku Islands' written by Kiyoshi Inoue), and the historical fact before the Japanese government declared owning it in 1895 became clear.
As the result, it was clarified that Japanese government's, a part of mass communication's, and Japanese Communist Party's insistences (Such as it was no host ground before 1895) were quite groundless. Though Japan incorporated Ryukyu and the Senkaku Islands into the home country as the result of the victory of the Sino-Japanese War, the Senkaku Islands were recognized as even not the territory of the Ryukyu kingdom and the territory of China in both countries China and Japan before then. (Refer to 'Petrel' in "What's new" of our home page for details)
Therefore, it is clear we can never to say that the Senkaku Islands are the peculiar territories of Japan. In that sense, we declare sincerely the unity to your Chinese people. However on the other hand, as written last time, we cannot agree such opinion as a land somewhere on the earth is a territory of a country somewhere or a possession of somebody. The reason for it is that it is a bourgeois conception whatever and if it is profitable for the rule class it is not the one for profit for the workers and people. It is inevitable for the bourgeoisie to emphasize the territory problem and to fuel nationalism, but what requested for us is to fight against such tendency of the rule class of each country decisively and to advance the international unity of the workers and people all over the world, is not it?
In solidarity,
Yoshi (SWP)
----------------------------------------------
(Mr. Shum Wing Ho had send to us a following message on September 26.)
Historical facts of Diaoyutai
Diaoyutai is a group of islands located between Taiwan and Japan. It consists
of eight small islands, and total area is only about 6.3 square kilometer. The
largest of the islands is 3.6 square kilometer.
Year
Event
1373
Discovery of Diaoyutai during the beginning of the Ming Dynasty.
1879
The map in a Japanese publication, "Ryukyu Magazine", did not include
Diaoyutai.
1895
After the loss in Sino-Japanese War, Qing government ceded Taiwan and
Diaoyutai to
Japan in one of the unequal treaties of the nineteenth centuries.
1945
During the WWII, US invaded the Ryukyu Islands, and put Diaoyutai
under military
control as well.
1968
Japan discovered possible oil resources around Diaoyutai.
1970
US government gave Diaoyutai and Ryukyu Islands to Japanese
government. This
provoked movements to protect the sovereignty of Diaoyutai by Chinese
all over the world
1972
Japanese right-wing organization, "Japanese Youth Federation", built a
lighthouse in
Diaoyutai.
1978
A peace treaty was signed by China and Japan to temporarily stop the
dispute over the
sovereignty of Diaoyutai.
1989
In September, Taiwanese fish boats was forced to leave Diaoyutai by
Japanese Sea
Patrol.
1990
On September 29, Japanese Sea Security Bureau officially declared the
lighthouse at
Diaoyutai as a navigation sign, which invaded the Chinese sovereignty
rights over
Diaoyutai. In late October, Chinese government officially complained
to the Japanese
Embassy in China.
1992
Chinese government officially included Diaoyutai under Chinese rule.
1996
In July, "Japanese Youth Federation" built a solar powered tower in a
small northern island
of Diaoyutai.
1996
In August, Japan held up a Taiwanese fish boat, "Hua Yang", while it
approached
Diaoyutai.
We solemnly declare:
1.Diao Yu Island has always been and will forever be a part of China.
Invasion of our territory
will not be tolerated.
2.The Japanese government should immediately withdraw its fleets, and
dismantle all signs and
indications of their unauthorized occupation of the islands.
Japan's militant and imperialistic intents have not ceased nor have they
faded. People all over the world are obliged to keep an eye on this blatent
encroachment of Chinese land and to stop them.
We are all fervently committed in keeping the integrity of our sovereignty.
We urge everybody to stand up and protest the Japanese invasion of the
Diao Yu Islands.
For more information, please go to
"http://www3.asiaonline.net/users/whshum/diaoyu/default.htm".
:( Shum, Wing Ho :(
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Email Address whshum@asiaonline.net |
| Home Page Address http://www.asiaonline.net/users/whshum/|
----------------------------------------------------------------
:( :(
List of Messages
Hello Comrades! From the UK Revolutional Communist Party. (James Heartfield) Oct.17,1996
Hello to the Socialist Workers Party and its correspondents from the
Revolutionary Communist Party (UK).
Congratulations on an attractive website with thoughtful politics.
I was particularly interested by your critique of the influence of Non
Governmental Organisations. The erosion of democratic institutions by these
NGOs is a growing trend in the United Kingdom. Can I recommend our
Manifesto 'The Point is to Change It' (especially chapter four 'Whatever
Happened to Democracy?') on this issue.
Also please accept my invitation to visit the Living Marxism website at
http//www.junius.co.uk (where you can see the manifesto, amongst other
things).
Yours fraternally,
James Heartfield,
lm@junius.co.uk
List of Messages
What is the differences between SWP and JCP? (Alessandro Barducci@PRC) Sep.22,1996
Hello, I'm an italian communist (member of the italian Communist
Re-foundation Party - PRC). I'm writing an E-mail since my Netscape
returns "error" when i try to write you directly.
I'm happy to know that in Japan there are communist movements, but
I must admit to know very little about Japan politics. I wish to put
two questions:
1)In your documents you affirm JCP is a "corrupted" coomunist party.
Also in Italy we have a "post-communist" party - PDS, but I wish to
know what are the differences between you and JCP, from a
theoretical point of view and from the practical one. Also, can you
give me some practical example of non-communist behavour of JCP?
2)Do you know something about PRC? If yes, what are your relationships
with PRC, and what are - if any - the political differences?
I hope to have time to study your program and your political analysis
and, if possible, to contribute to the debate.
Thank you in advance, and good work for a communist future!
Alessandro Barducci (a.barducci@agora.stm.it)
List of Messages
RE: Diao Yu Island is forever a part of China. (Yoshi@SWP) Sep.22,1996
About Diao Yu Islands (Senkaku Islands) Problem
This is not the official opinion of SWP. But this problem is becoming important suddenly, so I want to think about it.
I do not know fully to which coutry Daio Yu Islands belongs originally.
But as regarding to the things at this time, it is really regrettable that a Japanese right-wing body built a lighthouse on a Diao Yu Island and Japanese government remained an idle spactator, and in addition to that, sent patrol boats around the islands when Chinese fishing boat went to the islands to investigate the situation.
This probably correspond to the increase of the Japanese imperialistic tendency in these days, too. That is, Having sent the Self-Defense Forces to overseas countries (Kanbodia, Rwanda, Syria) as PKO of UN, the redefinition of the Japan-U.S. security treaty, etc.
So, we must obseve the movements of our government and imperialist carefully, and object strictly to the things in this time.
However, territory dispute and having territorial ambitions are essentially of bourgeoisie or ruling class. Chinese fishermen and Ryukuan fishermen(present Okinawa prefecture) probably have been fishing around the Diao Yu Islands from thousands of years ago.
Meanwhile, the dispute between fishermens might had happened, too.
However, it is different from the territory dispute between nations.
I think that the peaceful coexistence relation or sharing of living had consisted mostly.
The case that territory become problem in itself is as a ruling area of a "Nation." Therefore, the territory dispute is the dispute of the ruling class and bourgeoisie thoroughly.
Japan had given a large victim to the people in Asia by doing the burglar invasion to China and Korea after the Meiji era, making to the colony, and acquiring economic rights. It was to have given the hardship to the people and the workers in Japan at the same time, too.
We cannot forget this even at one o'clock.
We the people or the workers should not struggle mutually about "Territory" problem etc. but as the same brother search for the road of coexistence with hand and hand.
And, it is necessary to give an iron hammer just to bourgeoisie who advocates the patriotism to the people in order to expand his economic rights.
Yoshi (SWP)
List of Messages
Diao Yu Island is forever a part of China. Sep.10,1996
We strongly condemn Japan's invasion of Diao Yu Islands. For thousand years, Diao Yu Island
have been part of China. This is a historical fact, no one is allowed to change this fact.
However, Japanese have always been starring at our Islands. They unilaterally included the Islands
into their territory despite Chinese people's protest. Japanese government even send fleets to
protect their right-wind bodies to land on and build lighthouse on our island. Japanese intention is
very clear, this is first move of further invasion of China.
All Chinese people are furious about Japanese move, if we don't stop them, we will be ashamed
one more times in the Chinese history.
Today, our country is at its highest time of our recent history, we have very power to protect our
land and our dignity. Japanese simple-minded action will only cost their self d!estruction against
China.
We solemnly declare:
1.Diao Yu Island is forever a part of China, invading our territory will not be tolerated.
2.The Japanese government should immediately send away its fleets, and dismantle all their
national signs on the islands.
The Japanese militarism has not been fading, people all over the world must keep their eye on this
event and to stop them.
We are all devoted to keep the integration of our sovereignty.
We urge everybody to stand up and to protest Japanese invasion into the Diao Yu Islands.
List of Messages
RE: How is the situation of Japanese Marxism? (Yoshi@SWP) Sep.7,1996
Dear Jean Christophe,
It is not easy to write about Japanese Marxism in a short term.
But, I dare to write about it in shortly.
Now in Japan, there are two parliamentary parties that call themselves "Left wing" or Reformist. They are the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). JCP is probably the one like FCP, and SDP (it had been the name of the Japanese Socialist Party until last year) is the one like FSP.
Therefor, though they call themselves "the Communist" or "the Socialist" arrogantly, they are only the Democrat or the Liberal essentially.
On the other hand, there are some "new left" parties in Japan, too. They were organized about the time of "the Anpo" (the Japanese-US Security Treaty) just before or after in 1960 at first. And about in 1970 when "the Anpo" was revised, they were reformed and differentiated in a various small sect. But most of them were the simple militarist (for example, the Japanese Red Army etc.) or only the "radical", complimentary power of JCP and JSP. So they have almost been dissolved and lost the influential power already.
Our SWP was formed in 1984. But there are the former history from 1960's in SWP. We are proud of our standpoint of the scientific socialism and the dialectical materialism. Only the one who is truly scientific will win the victory.
Please see "Why and how was SWP formed?" of our home page to know much more ab
out SWP.
In solidarity,
Yoshi (SWP)
List of Messages
How is the situation of Japanese Marxism? (Jean Christophe) Aug.29,1996
Hello, I'm new here.
I'm french and looking for some info on Japanese marxism.
Can anybody be of some help?
Jean Christophe.
List of Messages
About FI, ILC, and the US Labor Party Jul.16,1996
Like most political tendencies in the Left, the collapse of
Stalinism resulted in the fracturing of many currents. The
Trotskyist mov't was no exception. My comrades in the Fourth
International (ICR) realized that there were new opportunities
for working class unity based on two items:
1. The collapse of Stalinism and its remnants growing over
to Social Democracy and Social Democracy growing over to become
a piller of Imperialism, openly and without reservation. Thus,
Imperialisms choice, for example, of the French Socialist Party
over the more rightwing Gaullist nationalists.
2. The world wide offensive by imperialism, through the
World Bank and IMF to privaitize and destroy the working
class in many countries.
The FI(ICR) itself a revolutionary Marxist and Trotskyist current
realized that many of the tendencies coming out of traditional
Stalinist !or social democratic backrounds still wanted to
fight back against the bosses but with out the fetters of Stalinism
or reformism. The FI (ICR) in 1992 called for an Open World
Conference of Workers to meet in Barcalona to organize a
new "Workers International" that would group together anyone
who stood for the following things:
1. Opposition to all forms of privatization
2. Opposition to all forms of imperialist war.
3. For the independence of the working class from the
bosses parties and for the independence for the unions from
government intervention.
Thus the Workers' International Liaison Committee (ILC) was
born and has had succesfull actions against the bosses around
the world. One area of growth has been in South Asia. We
have been key in building support for the 12,000 striking
bus drivers in Mexico City raising tens of thousands of
dollars for them and co-sponsori!ng a rally of 30,000 in their
support. Dozens of oth!er class stuggle solidarity actions have
been organized by the ILC.
The Fourth International works as a tendency inside the ILC
as do the various sections of the FI. Many ILC groups have
no Trotskyists in it at all, being composed of Anarcho-syndicalists
independent socialists or members of other tendencies.
To this end we are building the 3rd Open World Confernce
in Paris of October of this year.
___________
The Labor Party was founded in the US by unions representing
around 2 million workers or about 10% of the union mov't
in the US. Internationally the ILC helped bring international
delegates to the convention and Socialist Organizer fought
within the Labor Party to keep it independent from the
two parties of the bosses and to keep the structure democratic.
see http://www.labornet.org/workers/to
for more information. It is an HISTORIC moment for the working
List of Messages
RE: About the Workers International Liaison Committee, etc. (Satomi@SWP) Jul.6,1996
Dear David Walters,
Thank you for your message! We Japanese socialist can hardly get
information outside Japan. Would you please tell us your group, i.e.,
Socialist Organizer and the Workers International Liaison Commitee,
and the Labor Party you found in June?
In solidarity,
Satomi(SWP)
List of Messages
About the Workers International Liaison Committee, etc. (David Walters) Jul.13,1996Hi,
this is David Walters, technical director for Soicalist Organizer
in the U.S. We are affiliated with the Workers International Liaison
Committee. I have visited your Home Page off and on for some
time and I am trying to get an understanding of the workers
mov't in Japan. Our group was active in the founding of
the Labor Party this past June in Ohio.
List of Messages
RE: How much anger or indifference is there for socialism in Japan? (Satomi@SWP) Jul.6,1996Dear Bradley Traynor,
You wrote,
>How much
>anger or indifference is there for socialism in Japan?
>What movements have Japanese socialists championed?
I think that there is not so much repulsion against socialism in Japan.
However, indifference and disappointment toward socialism has been
spreading year by year.
The prestige of the socialism suffered a severe setback also in Japan just
like the United States. One reason for it is that Japan has succeeded as
capitalism up to now. However, another reason is that the Social
Democratic Party and the Communist Party have completely forgeted the
socialist ideal and have deepened reformism. The Social Democratic Party
have degenerated and have been joining hands with the Liberal-Democratic
Party who was the old enemy.
On the other hand, the New Left did not aim at new workers party who took
the place of SDP and JCP but had deepened radical reformism as a radical
supplementation of SDP and JCP. However, it had completely failed and
have deepened the civicism recently.
Thus, the Socialist Workers Party is the only workers party, real workers
party in Japan! We put great emphasis on having a ideological dispute
with other party and the struggles and activities in lavor unions.
More information is written in our platform and "Why and how was SWP
formed?" and our organ 'Petrel'. Please read them.
In solidarity,
Sin-ichi Satomi(SWP)
swp@aqu.bekkoame.or.jp
List of Messages
How much anger or indifference is there for socialism in Japan? (Bradley Traynor) Jul.5,1996Greetings Comrades! I am so excited to learn about
a socialist worker's party in Japan! Up to this point
I was only familiar with the party led by the former
Prime Minister. It's wonderful to know that there
is a true Worker's party that fights for socialist
action.
I am interested in learning more about the state
of socialist ideology in modern Japan. How much
anger or indifference is there for socialism in Japan?
What movements have Japanese socialists championed?
ANY info. and dialogue would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Bradley Traynor
btraynor@macalstr.edu
www.macalstr.edu/~btraynor
List of Messages