×

News

Commentary: Nuclear powers are needed to make nuclear ban treaty effective

by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer

NEW YORK -- The first round of U.N. talks on the world’s first treaty to outlaw and eliminate nuclear weapons has concluded as scheduled. From beginning to end, the discussions were led by non-nuclear states that have been seeking a treaty that would effect a broad ban on nuclear weapons and related actions. The smooth progress of the talks was made possible because of the absence of the nuclear powers, which are opposed to such a treaty, and those nations under the nuclear umbrella, including Japan. The next important point is what measures should be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the proposed treaty.

Before the opening of the conference, some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) proposed a framework agreement, which would allow nations that adhere to the policy of nuclear deterrence to take a gradual approach in joining the treaty. They pressed Japan and other nations to adopt their idea. But Japan did not take part in the discussions. The Netherlands, a signatory to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), attended the conference but did not support the proposal.

Since the conference was attended mainly by proponents of a nuclear ban treaty, there was a favorable atmosphere for constructive discussion and details of the agreement were proposed.

But outside the conference room, nuclear powers that included the United States, the United Kingdom, and France held a news conference timed for the opening of the meeting and told reporters that they would boycott it. To eliminate nuclear weapons, the involvement of the nuclear weapon states is vital, but the deep division between the two sides has once again been brought to the fore.

Seeking to address this rift, NGOs from Japan made their presence felt. Mayors for Peace, for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president, proposed establishing a system to hold talks with non-signatories of the treaty after it becomes effective. Another NGO suggested that the word “hibakusha” be included in the preamble to strengthen the significance of the treaty. These groups are trying to serve as a bridge between the nuclear and non-nuclear states, which is what the world needs. The Japanese government has been flattering itself, professing to play this role, but it refused to contribute to the conference discussions. Its actions will be called into question.

(Originally published on April 2, 2017)

Archives