Hiroshima Roundtable compiles draft of policy recommendations for no first use of nuclear weapons
Jul. 18, 2024
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writer
On July 17, the Hiroshima Roundtable, a panel of experts on nuclear disarmament organized by Hiroshima prefecture and others, concluded two days of discussions in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, and compiled a draft of its first policy recommendations, “Hiroshima Watch” statement. It calls on nuclear weapon states to commit to no first use. The final document will be published on August 5 and sent to all 193 member states of the United Nations.
The draft, titled, “A World on the Brink of Nuclear Use,” points out national security policies are increasing reliance on nuclear weapons. It calls on nuclear weapon states such as the United States and Russia to commit to no first use and “negative security assurances” by not launching nuclear attacks on non-nuclear weapon states; to stop the production and deployment of a new generation of nuclear weapons; and to cease nuclear weapons testing.
It urges nuclear weapon states and their allies to “recognize that excessive reliance on nuclear deterrence increases the prospect of actual weapons use.”
The roundtable was attended by 21 experts from Japan, the U.S., China, Russia, South Korea, and Australia. After the meeting that day, Moderator Kiichi Fujiwara (specially appointed professor at Juntendo University) and Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki held a press conference and announced the draft. Regarding the final document, Mr. Fujiwara said, “I’d like to devise a way not only to hand it over to government leaders but also to broadly convey it to society.”
(Originally published on July 18, 2024)
On July 17, the Hiroshima Roundtable, a panel of experts on nuclear disarmament organized by Hiroshima prefecture and others, concluded two days of discussions in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, and compiled a draft of its first policy recommendations, “Hiroshima Watch” statement. It calls on nuclear weapon states to commit to no first use. The final document will be published on August 5 and sent to all 193 member states of the United Nations.
The draft, titled, “A World on the Brink of Nuclear Use,” points out national security policies are increasing reliance on nuclear weapons. It calls on nuclear weapon states such as the United States and Russia to commit to no first use and “negative security assurances” by not launching nuclear attacks on non-nuclear weapon states; to stop the production and deployment of a new generation of nuclear weapons; and to cease nuclear weapons testing.
It urges nuclear weapon states and their allies to “recognize that excessive reliance on nuclear deterrence increases the prospect of actual weapons use.”
The roundtable was attended by 21 experts from Japan, the U.S., China, Russia, South Korea, and Australia. After the meeting that day, Moderator Kiichi Fujiwara (specially appointed professor at Juntendo University) and Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki held a press conference and announced the draft. Regarding the final document, Mr. Fujiwara said, “I’d like to devise a way not only to hand it over to government leaders but also to broadly convey it to society.”
(Originally published on July 18, 2024)
