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Joint statement on nuclear weapons seeks to expand supporting nations with addition of “all approaches” to abolition

by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer

On October 12, the draft of a joint statement which stresses the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and calls for these arms never to be used again was introduced at the United Nations General Assembly. The new statement, prepared by a number of nations, will continue to incorporate the wording “it is in the interest of the very survival of humanity that nuclear weapons are never used again, under any circumstances,” language that was the basis for Japan’s reluctance to support similar statements in the past. At the same time, however, language that refers to “all approaches” to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons has been newly added. With this inclusion, it may be easier for nations with broader policies like Japan, which relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, to back the statement.

Similar declarations were released three times in the past, but Japan did not lend its support to any of them. Japan had expressed concern that the wording “under any circumstances” was not consistent with the nation’s security policy, against the backdrop of tension in Asia over North Korea’s nuclear arms program and other developments. But Japan has shifted its stance this time. On October 11, after Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida consulted with counterparts in New Zealand, one of the drafters of the statement, and asked for adjustments to the text, he announced that Japan will now endorse the document.

The draft, which the Chugoku Shimbun has obtained, describes the inhumanity of nuclear weapons in stark terms, saying that such weapons wield grave influence over human survival, the environment, social and economic development, and the health of future generations. The statement notes that the effects of these weapons, from the moment they were first used, are clear, and it emphasizes the horrific destruction of the A-bombed cities, though it does not mention the cities by name.

Previous statements have mentioned “outlawing” nuclear arms and Japan cited this as one reason it hesitated to support them. But the last statement, released in Geneva, Switzerland in April 2013, did not include this language. While the April statement, like previous statements, referred to the application of international humanitarian law against the use of nuclear weapons, the draft statement this time will not. As far as international law is concerned, the new statement will be less likely to prevent the use of nuclear arms.

It has been noted that Japan chose not to support that statement on the grounds that it would adversely impact its own policy, which promotes a step-by-step approach to the problem of eliminating nuclear weapons. The new statement, however, emphasizes the idea of “all approaches” and this additional language can be interpreted as an effort to give due consideration to Japan’s position in relying on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

The new statement, now undergoing final adjustments, is expected to be released on October 17 (local time) or thereafter.

Keywords

Joint statement on non-use of nuclear weapons
The 2010 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference raised concerns over the catastrophic damage caused by the use of nuclear weapons. Since that time, the international community has been actively discussing the inhumanity of nuclear arms. Sixteen nations, including New Zealand, released a joint statement stressing the inhumanity of nuclear weapons at the First Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference in 2012. Joint statements with similar intent were then released two additional times. Norway, an active force in advancing nuclear disarmament, held an international conference on the inhumane effects of nuclear weapons in the capital of Oslo in March of this year.

(Originally published on October 13, 2013)

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