Association of diet members from opposition parties seeking “a world without nuclear weapons” resumes its activity prior to NPT conference
Feb. 28, 2020
by Yo Kono, Staff Writer
On February 27, the association of diet members seeking a world without nuclear weapons, composed of those from opposition parties such as The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and The National Democratic Party, held a general assembly at the office building for upper house members. The group resumed its activity for the first time in six months in order to prepare for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which will be held in New York this year; the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Seven members of the group attended the general assembly, including Katsuya Okada, the chair of the group and former deputy prime minister, Shinji Morimoto, the acting secretary general and upper house member from Hiroshima, and Ayaka Shiomura, the upper house member from Tokyo who was originally from Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture. The members listened to explanations about current nuclear disarmament policy from the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
When Mr. Morimoto asked, “Does the Japanese government have any choice to discuss participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons?” The official replied, by saying “We have no idea of simulating that option under the current security environment.”
The group will hold a study session next by inviting an expert on March 12. After that event, it will hold a study meeting on a regular basis with the aim to put together a recommendation by late April ahead of the opening of the NPT review conference.
(Originally published on February 28, 2020)
On February 27, the association of diet members seeking a world without nuclear weapons, composed of those from opposition parties such as The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and The National Democratic Party, held a general assembly at the office building for upper house members. The group resumed its activity for the first time in six months in order to prepare for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which will be held in New York this year; the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Seven members of the group attended the general assembly, including Katsuya Okada, the chair of the group and former deputy prime minister, Shinji Morimoto, the acting secretary general and upper house member from Hiroshima, and Ayaka Shiomura, the upper house member from Tokyo who was originally from Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture. The members listened to explanations about current nuclear disarmament policy from the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
When Mr. Morimoto asked, “Does the Japanese government have any choice to discuss participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons?” The official replied, by saying “We have no idea of simulating that option under the current security environment.”
The group will hold a study session next by inviting an expert on March 12. After that event, it will hold a study meeting on a regular basis with the aim to put together a recommendation by late April ahead of the opening of the NPT review conference.
(Originally published on February 28, 2020)
