Foreign Minister Iwaya says he “will not reconsider the three non-nuclear principles”
Aug. 3, 2024
by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
On October 2, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at an inaugural press conference that he “will not reconsider Japan’s three non-nuclear principles” when asked about Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s pet opinion to bring nuclear arms into Japan. While the stances of the new government are attracting attention, it shows that he would follow the views of the former Kishida cabinet.
It was in response to a question about an article the prime minister had contributed to a think tank in the United States, in which he advocated for the so-called ‘nuclear sharing’ policy of bringing nuclear weapons into Japan and operating them jointly with the United States. While Mr. Iwaya avoided specific comments on whether such a nuclear policy is necessary or not, he clearly said he would “strictly adhere to the three non-nuclear principles as a political policy.” He also mentioned the need for strengthening the nuclear deterrence of the United States.
The three non-nuclear principles of not producing, not possessing and not allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into the county have been considered Japan’s national policy since the Diet resolution in 1971.
Regarding Japan’s participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as an observer, which the prime minister said was “one of the options” during the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, Mr. Iwaya said he “will continue to thoroughly study the desirable way as the government as a whole.” Unlike the reluctant response of the former Kishida cabinet, he left room for consideration. He also viewed the TPNW as “an important treaty that could be said to be the exit to a world without nuclear weapons,” following the stance of the previous government.
(Originally published on October 3, 2024)
On October 2, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at an inaugural press conference that he “will not reconsider Japan’s three non-nuclear principles” when asked about Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s pet opinion to bring nuclear arms into Japan. While the stances of the new government are attracting attention, it shows that he would follow the views of the former Kishida cabinet.
It was in response to a question about an article the prime minister had contributed to a think tank in the United States, in which he advocated for the so-called ‘nuclear sharing’ policy of bringing nuclear weapons into Japan and operating them jointly with the United States. While Mr. Iwaya avoided specific comments on whether such a nuclear policy is necessary or not, he clearly said he would “strictly adhere to the three non-nuclear principles as a political policy.” He also mentioned the need for strengthening the nuclear deterrence of the United States.
The three non-nuclear principles of not producing, not possessing and not allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into the county have been considered Japan’s national policy since the Diet resolution in 1971.
Regarding Japan’s participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as an observer, which the prime minister said was “one of the options” during the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, Mr. Iwaya said he “will continue to thoroughly study the desirable way as the government as a whole.” Unlike the reluctant response of the former Kishida cabinet, he left room for consideration. He also viewed the TPNW as “an important treaty that could be said to be the exit to a world without nuclear weapons,” following the stance of the previous government.
(Originally published on October 3, 2024)
