March 17, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku, regarding U.S. President Trump’s request for Japan to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz, argued on March 15 that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces must not participate in any act that violates international law.

President Trump posted on social media on March 14, “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” adding, “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.”

Yamazoe debated this issue with representatives of the ruling parties on NHK’s “Sunday Debate” program.

While acknowledging that “emergency measures are necessary” to address the surge in oil prices caused by the situation in Iran, he pointed out that the current crisis would not have occurred without the preemptive attack launched by the United States and Israel in violation of the UN Charter. He emphasized that “the best measure is to demand that they stop this illegal war of aggression.”

The JCP Policy Commission chair again stated, “It is absolutely impermissible for Japan’s defense-only forces under the pacifist Constitution to cooperate with or participate in attacks that violate international law.”

Kobayashi Takayuki, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council, said, “We will make a careful judgment,” and have not ruled out the possibility of dispatching SDF vessels to the strait.

Saito Alex, chairman of the Policy Affairs Research Council of the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, defended the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes by stating, “It is difficult to determine whether they violate international law.”

JCP Yamazoe argued that at the Japan-U.S. summit slated for March 19, Japan must absolutely not promise to support, cooperate with, or participate in the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression, and instead should demand that the war be halted.

He criticized Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi for refraining from criticizing the U.S. and Israel while condemning Iran. He added, “Such double standards will undermine the UN Charter’s norms and will likely harm Japan’s diplomatic credibility.”