Merits and demerits of long-lasting Abe administration: “Bridge” to the abolition of nuclear weapons remains out of reach
Aug. 31, 2020
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
“Abolition of nuclear weapons is a conviction of mine.” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made this declaration at a news conference on August 28, when he announced his intention to step down from his office. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 78, acting chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Prefectural Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), turned a critical eye to Mr. Abe when he appeared on television and stated, “He was all talk and no action. I wanted him to put his words into deeds.”
During Mr. Abe’s second administration, which started in December 2012 and has lasted for seven years and eight months, world interest in the A-bombed cities and the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons has grown. The role that the national government of the A-bombed nation should play in nuclear arms reduction was seriously called into question. Nevertheless, the country’s non-nuclear diplomacy was conducted while the nation sought protection under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, which conflicted with the desire of A-bomb survivors who call for the abolition of nuclear weapons as soon as possible.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, which Prime Minister Abe mentioned as one of his political legacies, took place in May 2016. The first serving president of the country that dropped the atomic bombs stood before the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and said, “Among those nations like my own that hold nuclear stockpiles, we must have the courage … to pursue a world without them.” Hope that progress might be made in nuclear disarmament grew after his speech.
After the president’s visit to Hiroshima, the Obama administration considered inclusion of a “no first use of nuclear weapons” provision in its security policy, with the aim of reducing the role of such weapons. However, a U.S. newspaper reported in August of the same year that Prime Minister Abe had informed the U.S. military of his intention to oppose the idea on the grounds that nuclear deterrence would be weakened. A-bomb survivors’ groups protested against the government, saying that the nation’s “adherence to protection under a nuclear umbrella has become an obstacle to nuclear disarmament.”
When the negotiations to establish the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) started in March 2017 at the initiative of non-nuclear weapon states, Japan did not participate in order to align itself with nuclear weapons states, which rejected the ban treaty. The TPNW was adopted with 122 nations and regions voting in favor. The treaty’s preamble includes the word “hibakusha,” and the treaty comprehensively bans the use and possession of nuclear weapons. It was what many A-bomb survivors have desired for so long. However, the Japanese government quickly declared it would not sign or ratify the treaty.
“As long as there is a nuclear threat from North Korea, we have a responsibility to protect the lives of Japanese citizens by maintaining the (U.S. nuclear) deterrence,” Mr. Abe said as he responded to questions at a Diet session in a manner suggesting nuclear weapons were a “necessary evil.” He has thus revealed his dim view of the treaty, which considers the weapons to be an “absolute evil” and aims to abolish them immediately.
The national government says it would act as a mediator to make progress in nuclear disarmament, but what A-bomb survivors’ groups have been asking for is that the A-bombed nation should ratify the treaty and work as a bridge to persuade nuclear weapons states, which now object to the treaty, to join. Seven A-bomb survivors’ groups in Hiroshima directly requested the prime minister to sign the treaty at a meeting held on August 6 this year, but Mr. Abe maintained his negative approach. Kunihiko Sakuma, 75, chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Hidankyo, said without concealing his irritation, “He listens, but does not accept our request. What did he come to Hiroshima for?”
Akira Kawasaki, 51, a member of the international steering committee of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a non-governmental organization, assesses the Abe government in the following way: “The curtain will close on the Abe administration without it achieving significant results as a mediator, and instead with priority placed on the concept of nuclear deterrence, on which the government continues to rely.” Forty-four countries and regions have ratified the TPNW, which Japan has turned its back on, and it will come into effect with ratification by six more countries. Mr. Kawasaki thinks the Japanese government would take a first step in acting as that requisite “bridge” if it were to participate, even as an observer, in the meeting of the State Parties, which will be held after the treaty takes effect.
(Originally published on August 31, 2020)
A-bomb survivors disappointed in administration’s neglect of nuclear weapons ban treaty
“Abolition of nuclear weapons is a conviction of mine.” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made this declaration at a news conference on August 28, when he announced his intention to step down from his office. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 78, acting chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Prefectural Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), turned a critical eye to Mr. Abe when he appeared on television and stated, “He was all talk and no action. I wanted him to put his words into deeds.”
During Mr. Abe’s second administration, which started in December 2012 and has lasted for seven years and eight months, world interest in the A-bombed cities and the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons has grown. The role that the national government of the A-bombed nation should play in nuclear arms reduction was seriously called into question. Nevertheless, the country’s non-nuclear diplomacy was conducted while the nation sought protection under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, which conflicted with the desire of A-bomb survivors who call for the abolition of nuclear weapons as soon as possible.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, which Prime Minister Abe mentioned as one of his political legacies, took place in May 2016. The first serving president of the country that dropped the atomic bombs stood before the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and said, “Among those nations like my own that hold nuclear stockpiles, we must have the courage … to pursue a world without them.” Hope that progress might be made in nuclear disarmament grew after his speech.
Abe’s concern about “weakening of nuclear deterrence”
After the president’s visit to Hiroshima, the Obama administration considered inclusion of a “no first use of nuclear weapons” provision in its security policy, with the aim of reducing the role of such weapons. However, a U.S. newspaper reported in August of the same year that Prime Minister Abe had informed the U.S. military of his intention to oppose the idea on the grounds that nuclear deterrence would be weakened. A-bomb survivors’ groups protested against the government, saying that the nation’s “adherence to protection under a nuclear umbrella has become an obstacle to nuclear disarmament.”
When the negotiations to establish the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) started in March 2017 at the initiative of non-nuclear weapon states, Japan did not participate in order to align itself with nuclear weapons states, which rejected the ban treaty. The TPNW was adopted with 122 nations and regions voting in favor. The treaty’s preamble includes the word “hibakusha,” and the treaty comprehensively bans the use and possession of nuclear weapons. It was what many A-bomb survivors have desired for so long. However, the Japanese government quickly declared it would not sign or ratify the treaty.
“As long as there is a nuclear threat from North Korea, we have a responsibility to protect the lives of Japanese citizens by maintaining the (U.S. nuclear) deterrence,” Mr. Abe said as he responded to questions at a Diet session in a manner suggesting nuclear weapons were a “necessary evil.” He has thus revealed his dim view of the treaty, which considers the weapons to be an “absolute evil” and aims to abolish them immediately.
Mr. Abe’s negative attitude regarding nuclear weapons ban treaty unchanged
The national government says it would act as a mediator to make progress in nuclear disarmament, but what A-bomb survivors’ groups have been asking for is that the A-bombed nation should ratify the treaty and work as a bridge to persuade nuclear weapons states, which now object to the treaty, to join. Seven A-bomb survivors’ groups in Hiroshima directly requested the prime minister to sign the treaty at a meeting held on August 6 this year, but Mr. Abe maintained his negative approach. Kunihiko Sakuma, 75, chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Hidankyo, said without concealing his irritation, “He listens, but does not accept our request. What did he come to Hiroshima for?”
Akira Kawasaki, 51, a member of the international steering committee of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a non-governmental organization, assesses the Abe government in the following way: “The curtain will close on the Abe administration without it achieving significant results as a mediator, and instead with priority placed on the concept of nuclear deterrence, on which the government continues to rely.” Forty-four countries and regions have ratified the TPNW, which Japan has turned its back on, and it will come into effect with ratification by six more countries. Mr. Kawasaki thinks the Japanese government would take a first step in acting as that requisite “bridge” if it were to participate, even as an observer, in the meeting of the State Parties, which will be held after the treaty takes effect.
(Originally published on August 31, 2020)
