JCP chair criticizes government for clinging to 'nuclear deterrence' theory

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP chair criticizes government for clinging to 'nuclear deterrence' theory

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo criticized Prime Minister Aso Taro's lack of interest in U.S. President Barack Obama's April 5 speech in Prague calling for a "world without nuclear weapons."

At a news conference on May 7, Shii said Aso's response was shameful for a leader of the only atomic-bombed country, pointing out that he only talked about the need to push ahead with nuclear disarmament and to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime in vague and general terms. "He said nothing in response to Obama's concrete call for a "world without nuclear weapons," he added.

Shii made these remarks in answer to reporters' questions about Aso's speech delivered on May 5 in Berlin.

He criticized Aso for avoiding discussing concrete steps for nuclear weapons abolition.

Shii also cited Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi's response to Obama's appeal as saying that it is all the more important for Japan to curb nuclear proliferation by depending on the U.S. nuclear deterrence provided under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty setup.

Arguing that Japan needs to be protected by the "U.S. nuclear umbrella", Japan's leaders are asking the U.S. government to maintain its nuclear deterrence policy in defense of Japan and to ensure nuclear non-proliferation, Shii warned.

Shii also cited the daily Mainichi Shimbun of April 4 as saying that the Japanese government position adhering to the "nuclear deterrence theory" is an anomaly in the world, and added that this revealed how small-minded the Japanese government is.

He continued:

"In responding to the U.S. president's call for 'a world without nuclear weapons,' Japanese political leaders are putting emphasis on the need for 'nuclear deterrence" and "nuclear non-proliferation.' How shameful it is for the government of Japan, the only A-bombed country in the world, to call for further dependence on U.S. nuclear force!

What the Japanese government must do is to display the initiative in calling on the international community to launch international negotiations aimed at banning all nuclear weapons."

- Akahata, May 8, 2009