The picture shows citizens holding a protest next to the atomic bomb explosion site in Hiroshima, Japan. Xinhua News Agency reporter Ma Ping Photo by
□ Reporter of this newspaper Suning
Recently, Japan's report submitted to the 10th Review Conference of the " Nuclear-free Three Principles " mentioned in previous reports (i.e. "Do not own, manufacture, or transport it into nuclear weapons "). Although the Japanese representative said that the Japanese government adhered to the "three principles of nuclear non-nuclearity" and did not seek "nuclear sharing" arrangements, recently some former Japanese politicians and senior officials of the Liberal Democratic Party urged to engage in so-called "nuclear sharing" with the United States in a high-profile manner. The right-wing opposition party Japan Restoration also submitted relevant proposals to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding a discussion on "nuclear sharing". The negative trends of Japan have aroused high vigilance of the international community, and they are worried that Japan's future nuclear non-proliferation policy will undergo major adjustments.
analysts believe that on the one hand, the Japanese government still insists that while still insisting on the "three principles of nuclear-freeness", Japanese parties and citizens can discuss the issue of "nuclear sharing". This attitude of wanting to cover up is undoubtedly to cheer for Japan's support for nuclear-owned forces and give the green light to discuss "nuclear sharing", which is a reversal of history. Japan owes a clear explanation from the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the international community. In response to the above situation, the Chinese representative has expressed his solemn position and clearly pointed out that the "nuclear sharing" arrangement violates the nuclear non-proliferation regulations. Any attempt to copy the "nuclear sharing" model in the Asia-Pacific region will inevitably be firmly opposed by regional countries and severely countered if necessary.
Dangerous trends have long existed
Since this year, the argument of "nuclear sharing" has been rampant in Japan, causing concerns among the Japanese people about the future direction and security of the country. According to Japanese media reports, at the commemoration of the 77th anniversary of the atomic bomb explosion held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a large number of people expressed opposition and doubts about the argument of "nuclear sharing".
's "core sharing" argument first appeared in February this year. After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, important politicians of Japan's right-wing conservative forces took the opportunity to exaggerate threats and create tensions, and put forward the idea of "nuclear sharing" with the United States. After that, the president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan political investigation, Takaichi Saeno, suggested that the party conduct so-called research and modifications on the "no nuclear weapons" in the "three principles of nuclear non-nuclearity"; the Japanese Restoration Association also submitted a proposal to Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng, asking the Japanese government to study and discuss the issue of "nuclear sharing". The Liberal Democratic Party decided to hold a security investigation meeting to conduct internal discussions on "the feasibility of Japan and the United States jointly using nuclear weapons and equipment of the US military."
is related to "nuclear sharing". Japan also has high-profile strengthened the Japan-US military alliance, significantly increased the defense budget, strengthened the so-called "extended deterrence" including nuclear weapons, and developed pre-order offensive strike forces. In fact, it has continuously broken through the principle of "specialized defense" policy and principle, and fundamentally loosened the Japanese military and accelerated the amendment of the Peace Constitution .
In fact, the "nuclear sharing" argument is not a new thing in Japan. Many years ago, Japanese far-right elements proposed that Japan should "introduce" the "nuclear sharing" policy implemented by the United States in , NATO, . At present, some Japanese politicians regard the changes in the international situation as a "good opportunity" and enter a new round of climax of seeking "breakthrough" and "loosening". They try every means to change their methods and repeatedly test the attitude and bottom line of the international community.
analysts pointed out that although Japan has always claimed to adhere to the peaceful use of atomic energy and the "three principles of nuclear-free", the forces in Japan seeking military power and "nuclear-free" have always existed, and have taken the opportunity to cause trouble and seek to change the nuclear-free policy.
Ambiguous and contradictory policies
At this NPT review meeting, although the Japanese representatives clearly stated that they adhered to the "three principles of nuclear non-nuclearity" and did not seek "nuclear sharing" arrangements, they deleted the expression of the "three principles of nuclear non-nuclearity" in the report, which cannot be said to be a contradiction. In fact, this ambiguity and contradiction in Japan is not uncommon about what kind of nuclear policy to adopt.
In recent years, many policy measures of the Japanese government have run contrary to the concept of peace.Some media pointed out that on the one hand, the Japanese cabinet emphasized the fundamental strengthening of Japan's military defense, stimulated the arms race, and condone key members of the Liberal Democratic Party and government comments, while talking about peace and calling for a denuclearized world.
The website of the U.S. Atlantic Council published an article revealing that many former Japanese Prime Minister and other political leaders have called for discussions on "nuclear sharing" with the United States. Public opinion accused that under such ambiguous policies and contradictions, the vision of a denuclearized world mentioned by Japanese politicians is simply a "castle in the air."
Some media analysts believe that the Japanese government’s ambiguous attitudes on nuclear issues and policy contradictions have deep reasons. In recent years, Japan has spared no effort in seeking the so-called "national normalization" and "military normalization", and has been working on nuclear possession several times. The ambiguity and contradictions of the Japanese government on nuclear policy issues exactly reflect its complex mentality on this issue.
In fact, as a contracting party for NPT without nuclear weapons, Japan has not been able to deeply reflect on the history of aggression, and has long regarded itself as a victim of nuclear weapons. It sings the high-profile promotion of nuclear disarmament and opposes nuclear proliferation. In practice, it condones domestic discussions on violating the "nuclear sharing" policy of NPT. It also deletes the "three principles of nuclear-free" mentioned in previous reports in the report submitted to the NPT Review Conference. This contradictory approach of Japan is extremely hypocritical.
It is difficult to convince the public with different words and deeds
At the NPT review meeting, a Japanese representative said that the "Three Principles of Non-nuclearity" is the basic policy of the Japanese government, but also admitted that some experts outside the government did point out that Japan should examine whether to introduce a "nuclear sharing" arrangement. The Japanese representative then explained that the Japanese government did not consider seeking a "nuclear sharing" arrangement. In this regard, China has requested the NPT Review Conference to record Japan's clarifications and statements, and hoped that Japan would do its best to fulfill its obligations of nuclear non-proliferation and maintain regional peace and stability with a responsible attitude.
Some experts pointed out that given the negative trends related to Japan, and in recent years, Japan has tended to be right-leaning and conservative in politics, military strength, and ambiguous contradictions in policy propositions, the international community cannot be careless if it makes a statement on one occasion. It must pay close attention to it and be vigilant about Japan's nuclear policy adjustment trends.
In fact, there is another reason why the international community is vigilant against Japan's nuclear policy. Although Japan has always insisted on denuclearization verbally, it is actually "acting" in action. According to incomplete statistics, Japan has more than 600 research, development and management institutions for nuclear technology, including governments and consortium legal entities, and most of the scientific research institutions have world-class nuclear technology. In addition, Japan also stores a large amount of nuclear raw materials, and Japan is the only nuclear-free country that reprocesses nuclear fuel to extract plutonium. According to Japan Kyodo News in 2018, the plutonium extracted by Japan that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons has reached 47 tons. Some American physicists pointed out that the holding of 47 tons of plutonium is equivalent to possessing thousands of nuclear weapons.
As a country with historical responsibility, Japan should be more cautious in its words and actions. The issue of "nuclear sharing" arguments in China itself deserves review and reflection on Japan. Fu Cong, Director of the Arms Control Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that the "nuclear sharing" arrangement violates the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and aggravates the risk of nuclear proliferation and nuclear conflicts. Any attempt to replicate NATO's "nuclear sharing" model in the Asia-Pacific region will inevitably be firmly opposed by regional countries and severe countermeasures if necessary.
Since the end of World War II, Japan has basically adhered to the peace line policy under the escort of the Peace Constitution and has also achieved practical benefits for economic development and social stability. However, it cannot be ignored. From the lifting of the ban on collective self-defense rights to the passage of relevant security laws, to the development of offensive "counterattack capabilities", the basic principles such as the peaceful constitution, "special defense" and "nuclear-free principles" that are regarded as restrained and restricted by Japan have begun to loosen.
analysts pointed out that if Japan really adopts a responsible attitude, it should earnestly fulfill its obligations as a nuclear-free country, continue to abide by its own commitments on the "three principles of nuclear-free" and not seek nuclear weapons in any form.As an ally of the United States, Japan should also promote the United States to abandon the Cold War mentality of , effectively reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies, assume special and priority responsibilities for nuclear disarmament, and make due contributions to maintaining global and regional strategic balance and stability.
Source: Rule of Law Daily
