In upper house budget committee, Prime Minister stresses adherence to three non-nuclear principles, asserts possibility of ‘national debate’ on nuclear sharing
Mar. 11, 2022
by Yohei Yamamoto, Staff Writer
On March 10, during a budget committee meeting in Japan’s House of Councilors (upper house of the Diet), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (representing Hiroshima Prefecture’s district No. 1) touched on a movement in support of the idea of a nuclear sharing arrangement with the United States. “The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and other political parties have been engaging in discussions on the issue. A national debate on the issue is conceivable.” Before that statement, however, he reasserted his stance that his government would closely adhere to the country’s three non-nuclear principles and not engage in debate on the issue of nuclear sharing.
Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (representing Yamaguchi Prefecture’s district No. 4) put forth the idea of debate about the policy of deploying U.S. nuclear weapons in Japan’s territory under joint control by the two countries. Nippon Ishin no Kai (the Japan Innovation Party) happens to be in agreement with the suggestion. Prime Minister Kishida, responding to a query about nuclear sharing and other ideas related to nuclear deterrence by Rui Matsukawa, who belongs to the most influential faction of the LDP headed by Mr. Abe, said, “Japan has its three non-nuclear principles and a legal framework including the Basic Atomic Energy Act, which stipulates that nuclear power should be utilized only for peaceful purposes. For those reasons, I am not considering engaging in such a debate.” Mr. Kishida added, “In general, debate about national security should be had on the basis of the circumstances faced by the country at any given time as well as the global situation.”
Shinkun Haku, a lawmaker from Japan’s Constitutional Democratic Party, said, “If lawmakers of the country that experienced nuclear attacks begin to speak of nuclear sharing, it would probably send the wrong message [to the global community]. As a prime minister from A-bombed Hiroshima, you should rebuke the LDP heavyweights.” In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, “That is precisely why the government’s thinking must be made clear. I have stated multiple times that the government will not debate the issue.”
(Originally published on March 11, 2022)
On March 10, during a budget committee meeting in Japan’s House of Councilors (upper house of the Diet), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (representing Hiroshima Prefecture’s district No. 1) touched on a movement in support of the idea of a nuclear sharing arrangement with the United States. “The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and other political parties have been engaging in discussions on the issue. A national debate on the issue is conceivable.” Before that statement, however, he reasserted his stance that his government would closely adhere to the country’s three non-nuclear principles and not engage in debate on the issue of nuclear sharing.
Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (representing Yamaguchi Prefecture’s district No. 4) put forth the idea of debate about the policy of deploying U.S. nuclear weapons in Japan’s territory under joint control by the two countries. Nippon Ishin no Kai (the Japan Innovation Party) happens to be in agreement with the suggestion. Prime Minister Kishida, responding to a query about nuclear sharing and other ideas related to nuclear deterrence by Rui Matsukawa, who belongs to the most influential faction of the LDP headed by Mr. Abe, said, “Japan has its three non-nuclear principles and a legal framework including the Basic Atomic Energy Act, which stipulates that nuclear power should be utilized only for peaceful purposes. For those reasons, I am not considering engaging in such a debate.” Mr. Kishida added, “In general, debate about national security should be had on the basis of the circumstances faced by the country at any given time as well as the global situation.”
Shinkun Haku, a lawmaker from Japan’s Constitutional Democratic Party, said, “If lawmakers of the country that experienced nuclear attacks begin to speak of nuclear sharing, it would probably send the wrong message [to the global community]. As a prime minister from A-bombed Hiroshima, you should rebuke the LDP heavyweights.” In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, “That is precisely why the government’s thinking must be made clear. I have stated multiple times that the government will not debate the issue.”
(Originally published on March 11, 2022)
