Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, on Tuesday kicked off working-level talks toward updating the government’s three key security-related documents by year-end. The focus is on issues in which the two parties are not in agreement–the target level for proposed defense budget increases, whether Japan should introduce a nuclear-powered submarine and whether to revise the country’s three nonnuclear principles. The two parties hope to reach a consensus on the issues in time for the government’s cabinet decision expected for mid- or late December. The working-level talks are led by the two parties’ security policy chiefs, the LDP’s Yasukazu Hamada and the JIP’s Seiji Maehara. At the first meeting, participants heard the government’s explanation about changes in the security environment, such as new types of warfare that use drones and artificial intelligence. They confirmed that they will start discussions in or after late November on a draft outline of the updated three documents to be presented by the government. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has urged allies of his nation to raise their defense budgets to at least 3.5 pct of their respective gross domestic product. In their respective proposals compiled in June, the LDP refrained from specifying a target level for defense budget increase, while the JIP called for a hike to 2 pct or more of fiscal 2026 GDP. The JIP also proposed the early introduction of a nuclear submarine and called for a “realistic study” on one of the three nonnuclear principles–not permitting the entry of nuclear weapons in the country. The other two principles are not possessing and not producing nuclear weapons. The LDP’s proposal had no reference to nuclear submarines or the nonnuclear principles. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
