News

by Satoshi Hirata, Staff Writer

Nobuyuki Baba, leader of the Nippon Ishin no Kai (in English, ‘Japan Innovation Party’), reiterated his sense that there would be no way of avoiding deliberations on acquiring the capacity to respond (the ability to attack enemy bases) and on the issue of nuclear sharing, a concept whereby the United States would manage a portion of its nuclear weapons in collaboration with Japan. In an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun in Hiroshima on February 6, Mr. Baba expressed his thinking about the debates, based on consideration paid to a number of countries such as China, which has been intensifying its military pressure on Taiwan. Revealing his understanding that nuclear disarmament would be one of the themes at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, Mr. Baba asked Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to find a path forward for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s accelerated development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, Mr. Baba emphasized in the interview that “a certain level of deterrence is necessary to avoid war or being drawn into one.” Referring to the ongoing debates on the capacity to respond and nuclear sharing, he said, “It would be irresponsible to the public if we were unable to do anything until there are casualties.”

On the other hand, Mr. Baba agreed with the idea of pursuing nuclear abolition as an ultimate goal. He requested that Mr. Kishida, who will chair the summit, “draw a roadmap forward, from the current reality in which Japan is situated under the U.S. nuclear umbrella to the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide.”

Mr. Baba expressed a degree of support for increased Japan defense spending, under discussion in the current Diet session. He also insisted, however, that the Diet should carry out painful reforms that require self-sacrifice, such as reductions in the number of Diet members, before raising taxes to cover any increase in the defense budget.

(Originally published on February 7, 2023)