"Verbal Commitment to 'Uphold the Three Non-Nuclear Principles' Contradicted by Actions Exposing 'Re-Militarization' Agenda, Takashima Sawa's Hiroshima Speech Intensifies External Concerns"

[Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Hui, Global Times Reporter Zhang Wanshi] The 81st anniversary ceremony of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima was held on the 6th at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the ceremony, where she stated in her speech and during the subsequent Q&A session that Japan is "upholding the 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles'," but did not explicitly state that it would continue to adhere to this principle. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on the 6th that for a long time, Japanese right-wing forces have distorted historical facts, politically exploiting the label of "nuclear explosion victims" to gain international sympathy, while deliberately downplaying the deaths of tens of millions caused by Japan's aggression against neighboring countries, attempting to absolve themselves of the crimes of invasion. Ironically, the Japanese ruling authorities have recently attempted to strengthen their military and seek enhanced U.S. nuclear protection, plotting to break through the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles." Senior officials in the Prime Minister's residence have even clamored for the pursuit of independent nuclear capabilities, unabashedly revealing their ambition for "re-militarization." This dual approach is a provocation to peace-loving people around the world and a desecration of historical justice.

According to a report by Kyodo News on the 6th, Takaichi stated in her speech at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremony: "Our country is upholding the 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles.' As the only country in the world to have suffered a nuclear explosion during war, we bear the mission of continuously striving for a 'nuclear-free world.'" At the press conference following the ceremony, Takaichi refused to clearly state whether she would adhere to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" when revising the "Three Security Documents." She indicated that the documents are still under revision, making it too early to comment on the final content. Kyodo News analyzed that previous Japanese prime ministers typically used expressions like "while upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles" in their Hiroshima commemorative speeches, clearly pointing to future policy directions, whereas Takaichi only stated the current situation this time, which may reflect her consistent inclination to modify the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles."

Professor Zhan Debin from the International Relations Department of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics told Global Times reporters on the 6th that Takaichi's remarks in Hiroshima superficially reaffirm the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," but the wording deliberately emphasizes the current state of "upholding," avoiding a commitment to future adherence to the principles. This actually leaves room for future policy modifications, consistent with her long-standing position advocating for changes to the "no import" clause and promoting the loosening of the "Three Security Documents." "For the international community, we should pay more attention to the actual actions of the Japanese government rather than its political rhetoric in specific occasions. Verbal 'adherence' accompanied by substantial preparations for loosening is essentially just an empty political performance," he said.

Takaichi's ambiguous statements regarding nuclear policy have also sparked public skepticism within Japan. According to a report by the new Hiroshima TV station on the 6th, Takaichi, while meeting with survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, stated that Japan is "upholding the 'Three Non-Nuclear Principles,'" but consistently avoided mentioning future security and nuclear policies, indicating that the government is "advancing research" towards the end-of-year goal for revising the "Three Security Documents." Opposition party representative Jun Ogawa from the "Center Reform Union" expressed concerns on the 6th, stating that although Takaichi mentioned the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," it was merely a description of the current situation, lacking the determination to continue adhering to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" in the future.

Additionally, according to a report by the Asahi Shimbun on the 6th, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi is coordinating a visit to Australia and India starting on the 17th of this month. According to several sources from the Ministry of Defense, Japan is expected to send its Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter jets to India for joint training exercises for the first time, which is likely to be one of the topics of discussion during the upcoming Japan-India defense ministers' meeting. The Asahi Shimbun reported that the Japan Self-Defense Forces held their first joint fighter training exercise with the Indian military in Japan in 2023. Relevant personnel from the Ministry of Defense revealed that the purpose of sending fighter jets to India is to "contain China." The Asahi Shimbun stated that Kishi plans to hold talks with the Australian and New Zealand defense ministers on the 18th and plans to hold a trilateral defense ministers' meeting with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the export of the upgraded "Mogami" class frigates, which have already been approved for export to Australia, to New Zealand.

Chen Yang, a visiting researcher at the Japan Research Center of Liaoning University, told Global Times reporters on the 6th that while the Takaichi government verbally champions adherence to the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," it simultaneously blurs the boundaries of nuclear policy and intensifies military entanglement abroad. These two operations are advancing in parallel, revealing the true intention of promoting Japan's "re-militarization" and moving towards a "new type of militarism."

Lin Jian emphasized on the 6th that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials. The historical judgment is still ongoing, and the Japanese side should approach history with reverence, face the concerns of the international community, and earnestly fulfill its international legal obligations not to proliferate nuclear weapons, so as not to return to the defendant's seat of history.