July 1, 2009
The 2009 World Conference against A & H Bombs, which marks the 64th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is drawing near.
In the United States, which has been the biggest nuclear power putting up the largest stumbling block to the abolition of nuclear weapons, the president for the first time declared that achieving a “world without nuclear weapons” is a national goal. This marks the beginning of a major change toward nuclear disarmament. Thus, this year’s World Conference will be held amid growing expectations and determination to get nuclear weapons abolished.
Reject nuclear deterrence strategy and move to eliminate nuclear weapons
In his speech in Prague in April, U.S. President Barack Obama called on the world to work together to achieve a “world without nuclear weapons”.
In the report to the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee 8th Plenum, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo stressed that people power contributed to promoting the movement toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and that people power is a determining factor in its success. He said that the JCP is determined to play its part in this historic struggle.
Developments after the Obama speech suggest that a further increase in the movement is essential for making steady progress in the effort toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced “the commencement of the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)”, which is the basic document on U.S. nuclear strategy. The review is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
A senior U.S. defense department official made it clear that the Obama speech in Prague will be the framework for the upcoming nuclear posture review. However, he also said that the president stated that “until that time, as long as adversaries possess nuclear weapons, we will maintain a robust and credible nuclear deterrent.”
The official emphasized that the U.S. continues to offer the “U.S. nuclear umbrella” to its allies.
The most serious problem for the Japanese people is the Japanese government’s attitude.
Prime Minister Aso Taro and Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi continue to state that Japan’s policy depends on the “U.S. nuclear umbrella,” underscoring the importance of extended deterrence, including nuclear deterrence, under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty framework.
A Japanese media report entitled “Why can’t the A-bombed nation welcome a nuclear-free world?” revealed that a senior Japanese government official said to a U.S. nuclear strategy expert that if the “U.S. nuclear umbrella” isn’t maintained, Japan will have to review its policy.
The article states, “The deep-seated persevering belief of the government of the atomic-bombed country regarding nuclear deterrence is resisting the tide of ‘change’ and blocking the path that would lead to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”
The major rationale behind the government argument that Japan needs ‘nuclear umbrella’ is North Korea’s nuclear tests.
Whereas North Korea’s nuclear tests are of course an unjustifiable act that goes against international agreements and the global current for a nuclear weapons free world, the government of Japan, the only atomic bombed country, should not invoke the “nuclear deterrence” theory in countering North Korea’s acts. Backed by the firm determination to work to abolish nuclear weapons and to break free of the “nuclear umbrella”, the Japanese government should press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
Look at the rest of the world and you will notice that in Britain, a nuclear power, and Germany, which allows U.S. nuclear weapons to be deployed on its soil, part of the ruling circles are voicing objections to nuclear deterrence and the U.S. “nuclear umbrella”. The Japanese government’s attitude of resisting the changes taking place throughout the world is really extraordinary.
Hand in hand with grassroots efforts throughout the world
For more than a half century, the World Conference against A and H Bombs has taken a lead in the international movement against nuclear weapons. Recently, its cooperation with governments as well as the United Nations has been expanding.
In light of the growth of the global anti-nuclear weapons movement and the Japanese government’s resistance to it, the role of the Movement against A & H Bombs is even greater today.
Efforts are underway throughout the country to collect signatures in support of the international campaign for a “nuclear weapons free world” and to make a success of the Peace March toward the World Conference. These efforts are getting stronger support than ever. Let’s rally the majority of world opinion calling for nuclear weapons to be abolished in order to make a success of this year’s World Conference and the next Nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010. - Akahata, July 1, 2009
Reject nuclear deterrence strategy and move to eliminate nuclear weapons
In his speech in Prague in April, U.S. President Barack Obama called on the world to work together to achieve a “world without nuclear weapons”.
In the report to the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee 8th Plenum, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo stressed that people power contributed to promoting the movement toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and that people power is a determining factor in its success. He said that the JCP is determined to play its part in this historic struggle.
Developments after the Obama speech suggest that a further increase in the movement is essential for making steady progress in the effort toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced “the commencement of the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)”, which is the basic document on U.S. nuclear strategy. The review is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
A senior U.S. defense department official made it clear that the Obama speech in Prague will be the framework for the upcoming nuclear posture review. However, he also said that the president stated that “until that time, as long as adversaries possess nuclear weapons, we will maintain a robust and credible nuclear deterrent.”
The official emphasized that the U.S. continues to offer the “U.S. nuclear umbrella” to its allies.
The most serious problem for the Japanese people is the Japanese government’s attitude.
Prime Minister Aso Taro and Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi continue to state that Japan’s policy depends on the “U.S. nuclear umbrella,” underscoring the importance of extended deterrence, including nuclear deterrence, under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty framework.
A Japanese media report entitled “Why can’t the A-bombed nation welcome a nuclear-free world?” revealed that a senior Japanese government official said to a U.S. nuclear strategy expert that if the “U.S. nuclear umbrella” isn’t maintained, Japan will have to review its policy.
The article states, “The deep-seated persevering belief of the government of the atomic-bombed country regarding nuclear deterrence is resisting the tide of ‘change’ and blocking the path that would lead to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”
The major rationale behind the government argument that Japan needs ‘nuclear umbrella’ is North Korea’s nuclear tests.
Whereas North Korea’s nuclear tests are of course an unjustifiable act that goes against international agreements and the global current for a nuclear weapons free world, the government of Japan, the only atomic bombed country, should not invoke the “nuclear deterrence” theory in countering North Korea’s acts. Backed by the firm determination to work to abolish nuclear weapons and to break free of the “nuclear umbrella”, the Japanese government should press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.
Look at the rest of the world and you will notice that in Britain, a nuclear power, and Germany, which allows U.S. nuclear weapons to be deployed on its soil, part of the ruling circles are voicing objections to nuclear deterrence and the U.S. “nuclear umbrella”. The Japanese government’s attitude of resisting the changes taking place throughout the world is really extraordinary.
Hand in hand with grassroots efforts throughout the world
For more than a half century, the World Conference against A and H Bombs has taken a lead in the international movement against nuclear weapons. Recently, its cooperation with governments as well as the United Nations has been expanding.
In light of the growth of the global anti-nuclear weapons movement and the Japanese government’s resistance to it, the role of the Movement against A & H Bombs is even greater today.
Efforts are underway throughout the country to collect signatures in support of the international campaign for a “nuclear weapons free world” and to make a success of the Peace March toward the World Conference. These efforts are getting stronger support than ever. Let’s rally the majority of world opinion calling for nuclear weapons to be abolished in order to make a success of this year’s World Conference and the next Nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010. - Akahata, July 1, 2009
