Tokyo. The country which was once devastated by atomic bombs. Now there is a debate going on regarding this. Japan, situated on the sea shore, does not have any nuclear weapons. He has to rely on America. But in view of the tension with China, there is a debate in Japan whether it should also have nuclear weapons or not… Amidst the increasing tension with China, the debate on nuclear policy in Japan has gained momentum.
On Sunday, former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said that the country needs to debate on non-nuclear principles. Onodera is also a senior leader of the ruling party. Whereas former PM Shigeru Ishiba believes that this is not going to benefit the country. The reason for the debate is a statement. Recently a PMO officer had advocated for Japan to have nuclear weapons.
In fact, an unnamed official was quoted in the Asahi Shimbun as saying that he personally believes “Japan should have nuclear weapons.” According to the report, this officer is responsible for advising Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on security policies and related matters. About a month ago, PM Takaichi himself had said something similar on which many people had raised questions.
Talking about Onodera, head of the Security Research Council of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, he on Sunday mentioned Japan’s dependence on the American “nuclear umbrella” and said that it should be reviewed. Onodera said the government’s current policy is to maintain the three non-nuclear principles, but he also said relying on the US nuclear umbrella effectively means asking the US to defend Japan. “It is politically irresponsible not to think about nuclear issues,” he said.
Whereas former PM Ishiba admitted in the live program of ‘TNC News’ that acquiring nuclear weapons “will not benefit Japan at all.” If we look at Onodera’s words, it is clear that the LDP led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has started discussions towards amending three key national security documents by the end of next year, in which the issue of handling the three non-nuclear principles is also expected to be considered.
The third point of the three principles prevents nuclear weapons from entering Japan.
Takaichi, known for his hawkish national security stance, said in October that denying entry to nuclear weapons could hinder the passage of US nuclear-armed ships to Japan’s ports. This is likely to weaken American nuclear deterrence. The American umbrella simply means that if Japan is attacked or there is any nuclear threat, America will protect it with its nuclear weapons. Japan is safe under this American umbrella. In return, the country itself does not make nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Seiji Maehara, a lawmaker from the LDP’s junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, said in a TV program that a closer review was necessary. Okada, now a lawmaker with Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, sought clarification on how US ships armed with nuclear weapons will be dealt with in the process of amending three national security documents.
On Friday, the US State Department described Japan as a “global leader” in promoting nuclear non-proliferation. According to ‘The Japan Times’, this seemed like a warning against possible attempts by the Asian country to acquire such weapons. Japan is the only country to have faced nuclear attacks.
At the same time, the daily Chinese tabloid ‘Global Times’, quoting a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, has again advised Japan to stay within its limits. He said that the Japanese side should think about its historical crimes and follow international law and the Constitution of Japan. He should stop looking for excuses to increase military power and take care of his Lakshman Rekha.
