PM Says Japan Won't Build Atomic Weapons

[Wang]

PM Says Japan Won't Build Atomic Weapons

By JOSEPH COLEMAN

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Says Japan Will Not Build a Nuclear Bomb

TOKYO Oct 18, 2006 (AP)— Japan's prime minister struggled Wednesday to stifle talk of a move to build a nuclear bomb, a concept once considered unthinkable in the only nation ever attacked with atomic weapons. "The debate is finished," Shinzo Abe said.

He was adamant that his government will not even discuss the idea, underscoring how sensitive the topic remains more than 60 years after U.S. nuclear bombs obliterated Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II.

Abe made his testy declaration about debate being over just hours after his foreign minister, Taro Aso, told a parliamentary committee that he didn't see any problem with openly discussing whether Japan should have the bomb.

It was at least the third time since North Korea tested an atomic device Oct. 9 that Abe a defense hawk who came to office last month promising a more internationally assertive Japan has had to reassure jittery neighbors and an anxious U.S. that Tokyo won't abandon its postwar ban on nuclear weapons.

Abe made his first non-nuclear declaration last week in parliament. Then, over the weekend, ruling party official Shoichi Nakagawa suggested a debate about going nuclear "because countries with nuclear weapons don't get attacked," prompting further spin control by Abe on Monday.

On Wednesday, Aso gingerly approached the subject during testimony before a parliamentary committee, prefacing his comments by saying that Japan's non-nuclear stance would not change.

"When a neighboring country is going to have nuclear weapons, one can refuse to even consider the matter … but I think it is important to discuss the issue," he said, prompting Abe's sharp rejection of any debate on the matter.

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As long as the military alliance between Japan and the United States is strong Japan doesn't need to build it's own nuclear weapons.

 

[shiroma]

Abe made his testy declaration about debate being over just hours after his foreign minister, Taro Aso, told a parliamentary committee that he didn't see any problem with openly discussing whether Japan should have the bomb.

Abe and Aso were playing the "good cop / bad cop" game. It is the least expensive defence tactics to scare Kim and his suzerain by just talking about the possibilities.

Foreign Minister Aso Stresses Japan should Keep Nuclear Options Open

"The government's position to maintain its three non-nuclear principles remains unchanged," Aso said in the Diet. "People may think we shouldn't even consider or exchange views (on whether Japan should go nuclear) even if a neighboring country possesses such arms. But it's important to have discussions on the matter."

Not a startling comment, very democratic, much healthier than banning debates and forcing people take an opinion, which is a totalitarian approach.

It would be better for Japan not to have nuclear weapons at this point since that might lead to uniting neighboring enemies.

U.S-Japanese Alliance Reaffirmed in Face of North Korean Threat

The secretary said that, in her discussions with Japanese officials, she had reaffirmed Bush's October 9 statement that the United States "has the will and the capability to meet the full range - and I underscore full range - of its deterrent and security commitments to Japan."

 

[Mrjones]

Hmm they can build one they have the resources they need for it. The presence of the united states air force located in Japan, makes it not so important though.