Don’t Compromise Our Principles for American Nukes

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested that American nuclear weapons be stationed in Japan and for there to be a nuclear-sharing agreement between the two countries. As the only country to fall victim to nuclear weapons, Japan’s three non-nuclear principles — stating that nuclear arms shall never be held, used or introduced — have been national policy for decades. One cannot be so rash as to go against the path post-war Japan has taken.

On Feb. 28 during a TV interview, while referring to the nuclear-sharing program between the United States and member-nations of NATO, Abe said, “We mustn't view it as taboo to debate how the world is being protected.” Under this program, America houses nuclear arms in non-nuclear countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, and makes the decision on whether to use them, while the host country only provides the machinery needed for transport.

What Abe really wants to say is that Japan, a country surrounded by nuclear powers, must hold nuclear weapons to be safe itself. However, in addition to Japan’s own non-nuclear principles, agreements such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Atomic Energy Basic Law would likely be violated. Unlike Japan’s current situation, the sharing program in Europe was in place before the NPT came into effect in 1970.

Fighting fire with fire just doesn’t make sense for a country like Japan, which bears the scars of nuclear weapons and aims to abolish them entirely one day. Atomic bomb victims have recently criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for his apparent willingness to utilize nuclear weapons, warning him, “You will never be forgiven.” It’s a given that, as prime minister, Fumio Kishida reaffirmed Japan’s dedication to its three principles while rejecting any sharing program.

The Japanese government continues to debate how to best preserve national security. While strategies must be revised as the international situation develops, we can't seriously consider offhandedly advocating for a military buildup and housing of nuclear weapons on the heels of the invasion of Ukraine. Japan’s entry into the nuclear race would only increase competition, giving others a reason to launch a nuclear strike on us. What’s needed now is to stick to our three principles and choose the path of peace. What we need most is thoughtful, rational debate.