Japan's Defense Minister Koizumi Again Calls for Debate on Adjusting the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, Positive on Nuclear Submarines
Tokyo — Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi again called for debate on adjusting Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles at a seminar in Tokyo on November 3, and struck a positive tone on Japan acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, according to Kyodo News as reported by Xinhua.
Koizumi said Japan must create an environment in which necessary security policies can be discussed frankly and without prejudice, and that as the government revises its three security documents, society as a whole should recognize the nuclear threat. He also said he hopes for wide-ranging debate on how to advance discussions about introducing nuclear submarines.
The Three Non-Nuclear Principles commit Japan to not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons. The current National Security Strategy and related documents state that the basic policy of upholding the principles will not change; the government plans to revise the three documents by the end of this year.
The Takaichi government has made a series of moves on nuclear policy in recent weeks: Koizumi has repeatedly said the principles and nuclear submarines should be discussed without taboos; Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the Diet in October that concrete, realistic study would be given to nuclear submarines for the Self-Defense Forces; and Japanese media have reported that the government may adjust the wording on the principles in the revised documents.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：日本防卫大臣小泉进次郎官方肖像。日本防卫省供图，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Official portrait of Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Ministry of Defense, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
