Can Kishida Translate His Meeting with Biden into Momentum against Nuclear Arms?

Published in Kobe Shimbun
(Japan) on 23 January 2022
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Joseph Santiago. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met virtually with U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 21, the first earnest meeting between the two since the former took office. The main outcome of this meeting was that both leaders shared their thoughts on how to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, with the prime minister highlighting the fact that he’s from Hiroshima. The question now is what the prime minister will do next. Statements calling for an abolition of nuclear arms is all well and good, but what’s needed most is a way to make the United States act.

Kishida made no mention of the “global think tank” he aims to form to find a way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, which puts his resolve into question if it turns out America, a foremost nuclear power, declined to participate.

The first meeting of signatories to the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will take place in March. Although Japan is opposed to the treaty, as the sole victim of nuclear weapons, some are calling for Japan to participate as an observer state. Kishida, however, has been passive on the subject. While Japan bridges the gap between those with and without nuclear weapons, the notion that America’s “nuclear umbrella” is supposedly needed as a means of national security and that no nuclear powers will participate in the aforementioned think tank leaves its effectiveness in doubt.

Before this virtual meeting, though, both governments were in unison regarding the U.N. treaty and were affirming the duty of nuclear powers when it comes to reducing nuclear weapons. The prime minister must be more resolute if he truly desires an end to nuclear arms.

Whenever a new prime minister takes office, there are matters he must make clear with our ally, such as confirming the protection of Okinawa and the Senkaku Islands under our security treaty with America, and a swift resolution to the abduction issue with North Korea. Biden has supported us on all these issues. Moreover, both leaders agreed to establish new conferences headed by foreign and economic ministers in order to strengthen the bonds of our two countries regarding economic security and climate, and to stand strong together in the face of China.

However, one finds it puzzling that the prime minister dwells on issues, such as strengthening Japan’s defenses against North Korean missiles, while completely neglecting to bring up revising the Status of Forces Agreement that relates to American forces residing right within our borders.

Biden is expected to make a trip here this spring. Kishida cannot let this opportunity -- to make Biden see the reality of the situation and to seek its resolution -- slip through his fingers.


岸田文雄首相がバイデン米大統領とテレビ会議形式で会談した。首相にとって本格的な日米首脳会談は就任後初めてだ。

 「核兵器のない世界」の実現に取り組む考えを共有したことが今回の成果と言える。首相は被爆地・広島出身であることをアピールしたかったのだろう。

 問われるのはこれからの首相自身の行動だ。核廃絶の理想を言葉だけでなく、米国を動かす形で前に進めねばならない。

 ところが首相は、核軍縮の機運を高めるために自らが開催を目指す「国際賢人会議」について、何も言及しなかった。核大国・米国に遠慮したのであれば、覚悟のほどが疑われる。

 核兵器禁止条約の第1回締約国会議が3月に開かれる。日本は条約に反対するが、唯一の被爆国としてオブザーバー参加を求める声が高まっている。

 今のところ首相はオブザーバー参加に消極的だ。核保有国と非保有国の「橋渡し役」を担うとしながらも、安全保障上、米国の「核の傘」は必要で、核保有国が参加しない会議での核軍縮は困難-と説明する。

 ただ、今回の首脳会談に先立って両国政府は核拡散禁止条約に関する共同声明を発表し、核保有国による核軍縮交渉義務の重要性を確認している。核廃絶を主導する意志を示したいのなら、首相はもっと明確なメッセージを発するべきだった。

 日本の首相が就任後、同盟国の米国に確認を求める事項がある。沖縄県・尖閣諸島が米国の防衛義務を定めた日米安保条約の適用対象であること、北朝鮮による日本人拉致問題の即時解決方針などだ。バイデン大統領はいずれも日本を支持した。

その上で、経済安保や気候変動問題などで協力を進めるため、外務・経済担当閣僚による協議の新設など、中国を意識した日米の連携強化で一致した。

 一方で、首相が北朝鮮のミサイル開発に対抗する日本の防衛力強化方針を伝えながら、在日米軍に関する日米地位協定の見直しを提起しなかったことには首をかしげるしかない。

 バイデン大統領は今春来日する見通しとなった。その機に沖縄の基地負担の現状を説明し、解決の道筋をどう描くか、首脳間で話し合うべきである。
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