Since 1967, Japan follows the “three non -nuclear principles”, which consist of not producing, not possessing and not allowing nuclear weapons in its territory
The Prime Minister of Japan, Shigero Ishiba, today rejected the possibility of sharing the United States nuclear weapons and reaffirmed the will of the Japanese executive to respect the “three non-nuclear principles.”
Ishiba pronounced herself when asked about this option at a press conference held at the end of the 80th anniversary of atomic bombing Hiroshima, which took place today in this western city of Japan, the first in history to be attacked in a nuclear weapon.
“There was some confusion about sharing nuclear weapons means having them, but I do not consider any of these options based on the three non-nuclear principles,” said Ishiba.
The Japanese Prime Minister, however, defended Japan’s need to “study” a “strengthening of the credibility of nuclear deterrent”, in reference to the American nuclear shield that protects the Asian country.
Since 1967, Japan has followed the “three non -nuclear principles”, which consist of not producing, not possessing and not allowing nuclear weapons in its territory.
But the most hostile security environment involving the archipelago due to the war in Ukraine, the military growth of China and Pyongyang’s nuclear advances has made the political debate in recent years about the possibility of Japan hosting US nuclear bombs or maintaining the technical capacity to develop this type of weaponry.
Shortly before becoming Prime Minister last October, Ishiba himself defended the creation of a “Asian Nato,” with which the United States could share its nuclear weapons, or even capable of developing its own atomic weaponry, in response to the threat that is the narrowing of military ties between Russia, China and North Korea.
Ishiba, however, seems to have discarded this idea since it came to power, which is now confirmed by his statements within the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima bombardment.
Other important figures of the Democratic Liberal Party (PLD), currently in power, have defended a change in antinuclear stance maintained by Tokyo since the end of World War II.
Among them stands out former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012-2020), the most influential figure of the Japanese ruler party in recent decades, which also stated in 2022-the year he was murdered-that Tokyo should consider the option of sharing nuclear weapons with the United States, such as Washington makes his allies from NATO, and stop considering this possibility as “a taboo”.
Ishiba said today that Tokyo should “lead global efforts” for humanity to reach a world without nuclear weapons during his speech at the ceremony held at Hiroshima Memorial Park, where, on August 6, 1945, the United States released the first of two atomic bombs over Japan, causing the death of about 70,000 people.
The Japanese ruler also highlighted the “deepening of international community divisions” regarding nuclear disarmament and “aggravation of the security environment”, a context in which it is more necessary “to reach a world without nuclear weapons” through initiatives of nuclear non -proliferation (NPT), he said.
“We will appeal to all countries to make the most of this spirit of dialogue during the next year’s NPT initiative meeting,” said Japanese Prime Minister, who also called for “search for concrete measures” for denuclearization, including both countries that do not have such weapons and atomic powers.
“The basis for achieving a world without nuclear weapons is the correct understanding of the fact of the atomic bomb,” Ishiba said at the ceremony, in which survivors of bombardment participated, and before diplomatic representatives from 120 countries and territories, record assistance.
