Japanese Media: Japan's Nuclear Ambitions Undermine Peace Efforts

Reference News Network reported on October 23 According to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun on October 21, the Liberal Democratic Party's Security Research Committee (Chairman Hamada Seiichi) held a high-level meeting in the Diet on the 20th, confirming that it will engage in working-level consultations with the Japan Innovation Party regarding the revision of the "three security documents," including the "National Security Strategy." The consultations are scheduled to begin in November. Given the differences between the two parties on issues such as whether to introduce nuclear-powered submarines and specific numerical targets for defense spending, this consultation aims to seek consensus.

It is expected that Hamada Seiichi and the chairman of the Japan Innovation Party's Security Research Committee, Maehara Seiji, will participate in these working-level consultations as the leaders of their respective parties.

In June of this year, both parties submitted proposals to Japanese Prime Minister Takagi Sanae regarding the revision of the aforementioned three documents.

In its proposal, the Liberal Democratic Party argued that to possess submarines capable of launching long-range missiles and equipped with vertical launch systems, it should "utilize next-generation power technology," but did not explicitly mention nuclear-powered submarines. In contrast, the Japan Innovation Party's stance is more radical, clearly stating that "nuclear-powered submarines should be introduced as soon as possible." Additionally, regarding the "three non-nuclear principles," which include "not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons," the Japan Innovation Party also called for "realistic discussions."

Furthermore, according to a report by Kyodo News from Tokyo on October 19, a seminar on nuclear submarines was held on the 19th in Tokyo. The Japanese government plans to revise the three security-related documents by the end of the year, and whether to consider possessing nuclear submarines is one of the relevant topics. Hoshikubo Hajime, Director of the Atomic Energy Information Office, pointed out that possessing nuclear submarines "exceeds the scope of the 'defense-only' national policy and would undermine Japan's long-standing efforts for peace." He called for further discussions on the risks of Japan introducing nuclear submarines.

Sumiko Hatakeyama, co-representative of the non-governmental organization "Peace Boat," cited the risks of nuclear submarine accidents as an example, urging that issues related to nuclear submarines should not only be considered from a security perspective but also take into account their medium- and long-term harm to people and the environment.

Wada Masako, Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan Atomic Bomb and Hydrogen Bomb Victims Association, also attended the meeting and raised the question: "Why do we need to possess nuclear submarines? Is it to introduce nuclear weapons?" (Translated by Chen Rui)