With nod to A-bombed cities, Japanese government agrees to shift stance and back joint statement on inhumanity of nuclear arms
Oct. 16, 2013
by Jumpei Fujimura and Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writers
On October 10, the Japanese government announced that it has decided to sign a joint statement on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. The statement, issued by New Zealand and other nations, will receive support at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which deals with disarmament issues, and is now in session in New York. Japan had been asked to sign three similar statements in previous sessions, but did not back any of them, explaining that the statements were not consistent with the nation’s security policy. This stance was met with criticism from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the cities that experienced the atomic bombings. The government decided to pursue a shift in policy after confirming with New Zealand that the statement will not be biding.
Sixteen countries, including Switzerland and South Africa, have been actively encouraging other nations to sign the statement. Japan’s foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, is from Hiroshima and has been indicating his strong willingness to lend Japan’s support.
Like the previous statement submitted at the second session of the Preparatory Committee of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, held in April, the current statement will include wording to the effect that “nuclear weapons should not be used under any circumstances,” which the Japanese government had felt would put the nation in a difficult position, since it relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. This concern was overcome, however, when it was confirmed that Japan will not be legally bound by the document.
In April 2014, the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) foreign ministerial meeting will take place in Hiroshima. The NPDI, which is led by Japan, is comprised of 12 non-nuclear weapons states, and its foreign ministerial meeting will discuss proposals on nuclear disarmament to be submitted to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. In order to gain support for these proposals from other nations, Japan has reasoned that endorsing the joint statement is an important step.
The government has also apparently weighed the criticism that came from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and peace organizations after refusing to sign the three previous statements.
The joint statement, which will be released on October 17 (local time in New York) at the First Committee, will stress that nuclear arms should not be used because they can wreak inhumane damage over large areas. The 16 countries leading the campaign for the current statement are hoping to collect more signatures than the previous joint declaration, which was signed by 80 nations.
Keywords
Joint statement on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons
After concerns were expressed at the 2010 Review Conference for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), about the catastrophic damage produced by the use of nuclear arms, vigorous discussion has taken place among the international community on the inhumane nature of these weapons. At the first Preparatory Committee of the NPT Review Conference, held in 2012, New Zealand and 15 other nations issued a joint statement which focused on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Two other statements to the same effect were issued later. Norway, which has been active in its efforts to advance nuclear disarmament, held an international conference on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons in the nation’s capital, Oslo, this past March.
(Originally published on October 11, 2013)
On October 10, the Japanese government announced that it has decided to sign a joint statement on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. The statement, issued by New Zealand and other nations, will receive support at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which deals with disarmament issues, and is now in session in New York. Japan had been asked to sign three similar statements in previous sessions, but did not back any of them, explaining that the statements were not consistent with the nation’s security policy. This stance was met with criticism from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the cities that experienced the atomic bombings. The government decided to pursue a shift in policy after confirming with New Zealand that the statement will not be biding.
Sixteen countries, including Switzerland and South Africa, have been actively encouraging other nations to sign the statement. Japan’s foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, is from Hiroshima and has been indicating his strong willingness to lend Japan’s support.
Like the previous statement submitted at the second session of the Preparatory Committee of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, held in April, the current statement will include wording to the effect that “nuclear weapons should not be used under any circumstances,” which the Japanese government had felt would put the nation in a difficult position, since it relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. This concern was overcome, however, when it was confirmed that Japan will not be legally bound by the document.
In April 2014, the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) foreign ministerial meeting will take place in Hiroshima. The NPDI, which is led by Japan, is comprised of 12 non-nuclear weapons states, and its foreign ministerial meeting will discuss proposals on nuclear disarmament to be submitted to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. In order to gain support for these proposals from other nations, Japan has reasoned that endorsing the joint statement is an important step.
The government has also apparently weighed the criticism that came from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and peace organizations after refusing to sign the three previous statements.
The joint statement, which will be released on October 17 (local time in New York) at the First Committee, will stress that nuclear arms should not be used because they can wreak inhumane damage over large areas. The 16 countries leading the campaign for the current statement are hoping to collect more signatures than the previous joint declaration, which was signed by 80 nations.
Keywords
Joint statement on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons
After concerns were expressed at the 2010 Review Conference for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), about the catastrophic damage produced by the use of nuclear arms, vigorous discussion has taken place among the international community on the inhumane nature of these weapons. At the first Preparatory Committee of the NPT Review Conference, held in 2012, New Zealand and 15 other nations issued a joint statement which focused on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Two other statements to the same effect were issued later. Norway, which has been active in its efforts to advance nuclear disarmament, held an international conference on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons in the nation’s capital, Oslo, this past March.
(Originally published on October 11, 2013)
