Aprile 22, 2026

Kasai Akira, deputy chair of the International Commission of the Japanese Communist Party (and former member of the House of Representatives), held talks with Benjamin Pestieau, deputy general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Belgium (PVDA-PTB), at its head office in Brussels, Belgium.

Kasai said that he is delighted to see the development of relations between the JCP and the PVDA-PTB. He expressed his hope that the two parties will further deepen their cooperation and solidarity in regard to common challenges that they are facing, such as efforts to counter neo-liberalism and the rise of the far-right.

Kasai said that in Japan, the Takaichi government intends to increase its military spending to 5% of GDP in response to demands of the U.S. Trump administration. He continued to say that if that were to happen, the military budget would be equal to 40% of Japan’s annual tax revenues and be seven times larger than the education budget. He also reported that in opposition to the Takaichi government’s move to revise Article 9 of the Constitution and turn Japan into a war-capable nation, grassroots movements have been growing across the country. As an example, he cited the April 19 rally near the Diet in which 36,000 concerned citizens participated.

Pestieau said that a surge in peace movement activities in Japan has drawn his attention, adding that he hopes to continue exchanging views and communicating with the JCP, an important ally.

Pestieau explained that in Belgium, the government plans to raise its military expenditure drastically, go ahead with the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets, and make an adverse revision to its pension program. He reported that the PVDA-PTB is working together with labor unions and concerned citizens to increase public opposition to governments’ austerity policies and pro-military economic measures.

Kasai and Pestieau exchanged their views on the current international situation. They criticized the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran for violating the UN Charter and international law. They agreed on the importance of international solidarity calling for peace and democracy under a situation in which the world is witnessing widespread maladministration and military conflicts.