According to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency, the top Japanese government spokesperson reiterated on Monday that Japan will not join the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty. Japanese media said that this statement contradicts the current anti-nuclear stance of the Japanese government.
The Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Japanese Cabinet Katsunobu Kato said at the press conference: “We believe that, given the increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, while maintaining and strengthening the deterrence capabilities against threats, we should earnestly pursue the path to nuclear disarmament. Is appropriate.”
Katsunobu Kato said: “Japan agrees with the goal of this treaty, which is to abolish nuclear weapons…. But because we have differences on how to deal with this issue, we will not become a signatory.”
According to reports, as the only country that has suffered a nuclear attack, Japan has been trying to play a leading role in international nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation efforts, but Japan also relies on the US nuclear umbrella.
After Honduras became the 50th country to ratify the treaty on Saturday, the treaty banning nuclear weapons will enter into force on January 22 next year. No nuclear powers support this treaty.
The resolution was led by non-nuclear countries such as Austria, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, and South Africa. With regard to the treaty, the United States pointed out that before the treaty enters into force,
it will “have a direct impact” on US nuclear deterrence, and that non-parties of the treaty will also be affected. The treaty will “impede actual nuclear disarmament.” Since the United States opposes the treaty, Russia does not want to reduce its nuclear power because of the treaty.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying pointed out in 2017 that China has consistently advocated and actively advocated the ultimate complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons, which is fundamentally consistent with the negotiation purpose of the “Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Treaty”.
At the same time, China also believes that the goal of nuclear disarmament cannot be achieved overnight. It must follow the principles of “maintaining global strategic stability” and “safety of all countries” and proceed step by step; relevant processes must be handled under the existing international disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms. .
