Experts Cautious about Revising Japan’s Nonnuclear Principles

Tokyo, June 8 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Monday held the second meeting of an expert panel to discuss updating the country’s three key national security documents. During the meeting, Koji Yamazaki, former chief of the Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff, called for revising the policy of not allowing nuclear weapons to be brought to Japan, which is one of the country’s three nonnuclear principles. While one panel member said that it could be possible if requested by the United States, three others expressed cautious views, according to the Cabinet Secretariat. No panel member clearly called for keeping the nonnuclear principles intact. Revising the policy of not allowing nuclear weapons to be brought to Japan is a goal of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Yamazaki said that considering nuclear deterrence is a major issue at a time when nuclear threats are becoming real. Atsuko Higashino, a professor at the University of Tsukuba, acknowledged the importance of nuclear deterrence, but argued that the nonnuclear principles should not be revised prematurely. Higashino told reporters after the meeting that many panel members opposed discussing the issue as part of updating the national security documents. The government plans to update the documents by the end of the year. The panel will compile recommendations this autumn. Its next meeting is scheduled to take place by early August. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]