US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Japan Reaffirms No-Nukes Pledge After Senior Official Suggests Acquiring Weapons
A prime minister's office source said Japan needs nuclear arms, a view opposing the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and highlighting debate on security reliance on U.S. deterrence.
- On Thursday, a source within Japan's prime minister's office said `I think we should possess nuclear weapons,` reflecting a shift from long-standing non-nuclear policy.
- Government sources say the review centers on the Three Non‑Nuclear Principles, first declared by Eisaku Sato, former prime minister, in 1967 and upheld by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- The prime minister's office then denied that discussion took place with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and acknowledged reviewing the Three Non-Nuclear Principles would incur a huge political cost.
- On Friday, Japan formally reaffirmed its pledge never to possess nuclear weapons after local media reports, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara emphasizing the policy had not changed amid regional sensitivities involving neighbouring countries including China.
- Regional threats and doubts about U.S. guarantees are driving the conversation, with a Reuters investigation finding growing willingness in Japan to loosen the three non-nuclear principles amid risks highlighted by Shingo Nishimura's 1999 sacking.
Insights by Ground AI
12 Articles
12 Articles
Senior official at Prime Minister's Office: Japan should possess nuclear weapons
A senior official at Japan's Prime Minister's Office has expressed the view that the country "should possess nuclear weapons." But the official acknowledged that reviewing the nation's Three Non-Nuclear Principles involves a huge political cost.
·Tokyo, Japan
Read Full Article
The country is surrounded by neighbours with nuclear weapons.
Japan needs to possess nuclear weapons, prime minister's office source says
A source within Japan's prime minister's office said Thursday that the country needs nuclear weapons, remarks that deviate from the country's long-standing non-nuclear principles and could trigger backlash at home and abroad.
·Japan
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 22%
R 22%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
