［The Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons］: Observer participation in the meeting not realized; gap remains between the thoughts of Japanese government and A-bomb survivors
Nov. 21, 2023
by Koji Higuchi, Staff Writer
The Japanese government will forgo observer participation in the second meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which begins in the United States on November 27. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has understood the significance of the treaty, he has continued to maintain the stance that participation in the meeting at this stage, where nuclear weapon states do not join, would keep the realization of a “the world without nuclear weapons” at bay. There is a gap between Prime Minister Kishida and the A-bomb survivors, who hope for the Japanese government’s participation in the meeting.
Observer participation, meaning attending or speaking at the meeting, is a lower hurdle than signing and ratifying the treaty. Since late October, university students from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, A-bomb survivor organizations, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, and others have visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs one after another and called for the participation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it has had many discussions. A senior ministry official explained the reason for the decision to forego observer participation was "in consideration of the possibility of deepening the division" between the nuclear weapon states like America and non-nuclear weapon states that oppose the treaty.
In contrast, Sueichi Kido (83), secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), will participate in a thematic discussion meeting as a panelist during the conference. He plans to speak about his A-bomb survivor story and so on.
A-bomb survivors and young people have expectations for Prime Minister Kishida, who was elected from the A-bombed city of Hiroshima. During his tenure as foreign minister, Mr. Kishida consistently advocated building a bridge between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, and at his inaugural press conference as Japanese Prime Minister held two years ago, he described the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as "a very important treaty that would serve as a way out in the pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons.”
The Prime Minister has concentrated his efforts on nuclear disarmament policy by holding events related to the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) in America in September. However, regarding the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, he took a passive stance with regard to participating in the treaty at the plenary session of the House of Representatives this month. He said the role of the Japanese government is to "make efforts to make the nuclear weapon states get involved in the treaty.”
Germany, which is under the U.S. nuclear umbrella like Japan, participated in the first meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer last June. While showing some empathy for the goal of the abolition of nuclear weapons, Germany claimed it could not join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which denies nuclear deterrence.
Japanese government officials said, "If we participate in the meeting as an observer, we can only say the same thing as Germany.” There is concern that the stance of the Japanese government trying to distance itself from the treaty would be accentuated, and this would deepen the gap between Japan and the non-nuclear weapon states.
Akira Kawasaki, co-chair of Peace Boat, a non-governmental organization (NGO), urged the prime minister to take a concrete step forward. Mr. Kawasaki said, “If the Japanese prime minister does nothing, he will go down in history as a prime minister who cares too much about how the United States feels. As the head of the A-bombed nation, he should at least participate in the meeting as an observer and listen to the opinions of non-nuclear weapon states.”
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
It is the first international treaty that outlaws the development, manufacture, and use of nuclear weapons. It entered into force in January 2021. The preamble of the treaty touches on the suffering of A-bomb survivors and efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. Non-nuclear weapon states, including Australia and Mexico, led the enactment of the treaty in light of the stagnation of nuclear disarmament and so on. So far, 93 countries and regions have signed the treaty and 69 countries and regions have ratified it.
(Originally published on November 21, 2023)
The Japanese government will forgo observer participation in the second meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which begins in the United States on November 27. While Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has understood the significance of the treaty, he has continued to maintain the stance that participation in the meeting at this stage, where nuclear weapon states do not join, would keep the realization of a “the world without nuclear weapons” at bay. There is a gap between Prime Minister Kishida and the A-bomb survivors, who hope for the Japanese government’s participation in the meeting.
Observer participation, meaning attending or speaking at the meeting, is a lower hurdle than signing and ratifying the treaty. Since late October, university students from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, A-bomb survivor organizations, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, and others have visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs one after another and called for the participation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it has had many discussions. A senior ministry official explained the reason for the decision to forego observer participation was "in consideration of the possibility of deepening the division" between the nuclear weapon states like America and non-nuclear weapon states that oppose the treaty.
In contrast, Sueichi Kido (83), secretary-general of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), will participate in a thematic discussion meeting as a panelist during the conference. He plans to speak about his A-bomb survivor story and so on.
A-bomb survivors and young people have expectations for Prime Minister Kishida, who was elected from the A-bombed city of Hiroshima. During his tenure as foreign minister, Mr. Kishida consistently advocated building a bridge between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, and at his inaugural press conference as Japanese Prime Minister held two years ago, he described the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as "a very important treaty that would serve as a way out in the pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons.”
The Prime Minister has concentrated his efforts on nuclear disarmament policy by holding events related to the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) in America in September. However, regarding the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, he took a passive stance with regard to participating in the treaty at the plenary session of the House of Representatives this month. He said the role of the Japanese government is to "make efforts to make the nuclear weapon states get involved in the treaty.”
Germany, which is under the U.S. nuclear umbrella like Japan, participated in the first meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer last June. While showing some empathy for the goal of the abolition of nuclear weapons, Germany claimed it could not join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which denies nuclear deterrence.
Japanese government officials said, "If we participate in the meeting as an observer, we can only say the same thing as Germany.” There is concern that the stance of the Japanese government trying to distance itself from the treaty would be accentuated, and this would deepen the gap between Japan and the non-nuclear weapon states.
Akira Kawasaki, co-chair of Peace Boat, a non-governmental organization (NGO), urged the prime minister to take a concrete step forward. Mr. Kawasaki said, “If the Japanese prime minister does nothing, he will go down in history as a prime minister who cares too much about how the United States feels. As the head of the A-bombed nation, he should at least participate in the meeting as an observer and listen to the opinions of non-nuclear weapon states.”
click
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
It is the first international treaty that outlaws the development, manufacture, and use of nuclear weapons. It entered into force in January 2021. The preamble of the treaty touches on the suffering of A-bomb survivors and efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. Non-nuclear weapon states, including Australia and Mexico, led the enactment of the treaty in light of the stagnation of nuclear disarmament and so on. So far, 93 countries and regions have signed the treaty and 69 countries and regions have ratified it.
(Originally published on November 21, 2023)
