Takaichi says wording of Japan's no-nuclear-entry principle remains under review
In short
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on October 14 that wording on not allowing nuclear weapons into Japan remained under review as three security documents are revised for year-end. She said the three non-nuclear principles remained government policy and declined to prejudge the final text.
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in the lower-house budget committee on October 14 that wording on Japan's principle of not permitting nuclear weapons to be brought into the country remained under consideration. The comments concerned revisions to three security-related documents, including the National Security Strategy, planned for the end of the year. She declined to prejudge the specific content or wording while the review continued. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Takaichi said the three non-nuclear principles remained government policy. The principles are not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons. Nikkei reported that she also said nuclear sharing was not under consideration and was inappropriate. In discussing the wording, she referred to US extended deterrence and a 2010 statement by then foreign minister Katsuya Okada on an emergency exception. Sankei reported that Okada had said that, if Japan could not be protected without a temporary port call by a ship carrying nuclear weapons, the government of the day would have to make the decision and explain it to the public. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun interpreted the comments as leaving open the possibility of explicitly including an exception in the documents. Both noted that Takaichi had advocated reviewing the no-entry principle before becoming prime minister, arguing that it weakened the effectiveness of US nuclear deterrence. Nippon TV reported opposition and disappointment from atomic-bomb survivors' organisations in Hiroshima. One leader warned of the danger of nuclear war if entry were permitted, while another said survivors needed to send their message more strongly. The reports do not describe an adopted change to the policy. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The discussion concerns possible wording on emergency exceptions and the relationship with US extended deterrence. Hiroshima atomic-bomb survivors' groups voiced opposition and disappointment, according to Nippon TV.
Key facts
- Takaichi discussed the wording in the lower-house budget committee on October 14. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Japan's three non-nuclear principles are not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Takaichi said the principles remained policy and that she was not considering nuclear sharing. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV reported opposition and disappointment from Hiroshima survivors' organisations. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The final wording and whether an emergency exception will be explicitly included. Takaichi declined to prejudge specific language while the review continued.