Voices of Japanese citizens played important role in shaping Nuclear Posture Review
Apr. 9, 2010
by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer
On April 8, U.S. President Barack Obama, who released the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) on April 6, the long-term guideline for U.S. nuclear strategy, signed a new nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia. Some specialists on nuclear disarmament in the United States have praised the treaty as a concrete step toward nuclear disarmament and said that international public opinion, including Japanese public opinion, has played a role in this development. At the same time, there exists such criticism as "The mindset of the Cold War between East and West has not been shed."
The NPR has not stipulated that the United States will limit the role of nuclear weapons to deterring a nuclear attack, saying that the nation is not prepared at the present time to make such a declaration. Stephen Young, senior analyst of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called this fact regrettable. However, he pointed out that movement has been made in this direction as a result of the U.S. pledge not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states that are in compliance with the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). He added that the strong message sent by public opinion in Japan and the United States helped effect this outcome.
According to Mr. Young, U.S. government sources have disclosed that Eastern Europe and South Korea had shown a reluctance to limit the role of nuclear weapons, while Japan conveyed a greater willingness to do so. In the NPR, the retirement of the Tomahawk, the U.S. nuclear-tipped cruise missile, is also specified. Mr. Young expressed his appreciation, saying that the voices of Japanese citizens and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who has expressed strong interest in reducing the role of nuclear weapons, made a significant difference.
On the other hand, the NPR argues for a bold modernization of facilities for nuclear weapons, including reinforcement of uranium enrichment facilities, while rejecting the development of new nuclear warheads. The argument is in line with the Obama administration's request to Congress for as much as roughly 11.2 billion dollars (1 trillion yen) for the fiscal 2011 budget for nuclear weapons, a 13.5-percent increase over the previous fiscal year.
Stephen Schwartz at the Monterey Institute of International Studies analyzed the situation and remarked that the president struck a difficult balance in hopes of persuading those opposed to disarmament to back ratification of the new treaty between the United States and Russia and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), as the approval of a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required for such pacts.
It is believed that, within minutes, the United States is capable of launching about 900 strategic nuclear weapons and Russia is prepared to fire an even greater number. Regarding the relaxation of such an alert posture, about which concerns over unauthorized or mistaken actions have been expressed, the NPR presents this issue as a longer-term step. No concrete arrangements to deal with this dilemma are found in the new treaty between the two countries, either.
In this regard, Frank von Hippel, professor at Princeton University, who was involved in forming the nation's nuclear policy during the Clinton administration, pointed out that the perilous system devised during the Cold War has also been preserved.
(Originally published on April 9, 2010)
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A-bomb survivor in Hiroshima views new U.S. nuclear strategy with mixed feelings (April 9, 2010)
On April 8, U.S. President Barack Obama, who released the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) on April 6, the long-term guideline for U.S. nuclear strategy, signed a new nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia. Some specialists on nuclear disarmament in the United States have praised the treaty as a concrete step toward nuclear disarmament and said that international public opinion, including Japanese public opinion, has played a role in this development. At the same time, there exists such criticism as "The mindset of the Cold War between East and West has not been shed."
The NPR has not stipulated that the United States will limit the role of nuclear weapons to deterring a nuclear attack, saying that the nation is not prepared at the present time to make such a declaration. Stephen Young, senior analyst of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called this fact regrettable. However, he pointed out that movement has been made in this direction as a result of the U.S. pledge not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states that are in compliance with the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). He added that the strong message sent by public opinion in Japan and the United States helped effect this outcome.
According to Mr. Young, U.S. government sources have disclosed that Eastern Europe and South Korea had shown a reluctance to limit the role of nuclear weapons, while Japan conveyed a greater willingness to do so. In the NPR, the retirement of the Tomahawk, the U.S. nuclear-tipped cruise missile, is also specified. Mr. Young expressed his appreciation, saying that the voices of Japanese citizens and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who has expressed strong interest in reducing the role of nuclear weapons, made a significant difference.
On the other hand, the NPR argues for a bold modernization of facilities for nuclear weapons, including reinforcement of uranium enrichment facilities, while rejecting the development of new nuclear warheads. The argument is in line with the Obama administration's request to Congress for as much as roughly 11.2 billion dollars (1 trillion yen) for the fiscal 2011 budget for nuclear weapons, a 13.5-percent increase over the previous fiscal year.
Stephen Schwartz at the Monterey Institute of International Studies analyzed the situation and remarked that the president struck a difficult balance in hopes of persuading those opposed to disarmament to back ratification of the new treaty between the United States and Russia and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), as the approval of a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required for such pacts.
It is believed that, within minutes, the United States is capable of launching about 900 strategic nuclear weapons and Russia is prepared to fire an even greater number. Regarding the relaxation of such an alert posture, about which concerns over unauthorized or mistaken actions have been expressed, the NPR presents this issue as a longer-term step. No concrete arrangements to deal with this dilemma are found in the new treaty between the two countries, either.
In this regard, Frank von Hippel, professor at Princeton University, who was involved in forming the nation's nuclear policy during the Clinton administration, pointed out that the perilous system devised during the Cold War has also been preserved.
(Originally published on April 9, 2010)
Related articles
A-bomb survivor in Hiroshima views new U.S. nuclear strategy with mixed feelings (April 9, 2010)
