Takaichi Refrains from Denying Revision of Nonnuclear Principles

Hiroshima, Aug. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at a press conference in the western city of Hiroshima on Thursday did not clearly rule out a possibility of reviewing the country’s three nonnuclear principles. She is thus believed to have indicated her long-held desire to amend one of the three principles–not allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into the country. The other two principles are not possessing nuclear weapons and not producing them. The handling of the three nonnuclear principles is likely to be one of the focal points in the context of the government’s plan to update its three national security-related documents by the end of this year. “I refrain from giving preconception,” Takaichi said at the press conference, asked if the government will amend the nonnuclear rules in line with the update of the security documents. Still, she went on to say, “We are firmly maintaining (the principles) as a policy direction.” Also in her address at an annual ceremony in Hiroshima earlier in the day to honor the victims of the August 1945 atomic bombing of the city and pray for peace, Takaichi said that her administration is “firmly holding on to” the three nonnuclear principles. Before she took office last October, Takaichi often referred to the principle of not letting in nuclear weapons. On one occasion, she said, “Even if we face a critical situation in which the safety of the Japanese people is threatened, will we be unable to allow U.S. warships equipped with nuclear weapons to make a port call (in our country)?” Regarding the update of the security documents, Takaichi, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said at a House of Councillors Audit Committee meeting last month, “We will put all issues on the agenda.” Aggressive remarks regarding nuclear policy have been heard from her administration. A high-ranking government official said last December that Japan “should possess nuclear weapons.” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said recently, “We need to hold discussions with a sense of crisis and without any taboos.” Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, the coalition partner of the LDP, told reporters Thursday that “there is room for debate” regarding the principle of not allowing nuclear weapons into Japan. On the same day, Takaichi met with hibakusha atomic bomb survivors at a hotel in Hiroshima. A participating survivor asked her, “Are you planning to amend the three nonnuclear principles as the government works to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities?” A set of written requests that the hibakusha handed to the prime minister said, among other things, that a revision of the principles “goes against our wishes and therefore cannot be tolerated.” Still, Takaichi reiterated, “We are firmly maintaining (the nonnuclear principles).” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]