September 5, 2013
Officials of the Japanese governments vocally criticize Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons, showing a sharp contrast to their opinions towards the use of nuclear weapons.
At a press conference on September 2 and 3, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide repeatedly said, “The use of chemical weapons should never be allowed under any circumstances,” giving his support for a possible U.S. attack on Syria.
To use chemical weapons is of course regarded as a grave act of brutality against humanity and international laws. However, to conduct a unilateral strike against Syria without a resolution of the U.N. Security Council clearly goes against the UN Charter and international laws.
Meanwhile, at the latest preparatory committee of the NPT Review Conference in April, the Japanese government refused to support a joint statement on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, arguing that its stance is contrary to the statement’s denunciation of the use of nuclear weapons “under any circumstances.”
Nagasaki City Mayor Taue Tomihisa criticized the state’s position on nuclear weapons as going against the starting point of the atomic-bombed nation during the city’s peace ceremony on August 9, the 68th anniversary of the A-bombing on Nagasaki. He demanded that the national government take a clear stance before the international society opposing the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and take the lead in the worldwide effort to abolish such weapons.
In terms of how inhumane the consequence would be, there should be no difference between chemical and nuclear weapons. Switching its stance based on the U.S. government’s stance, Japan cannot avoid being regarded as dancing to the U.S. tune.
Past related article:
> Abe betrays the spirit of A-bombed nation (August 10, 2013)
At a press conference on September 2 and 3, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide repeatedly said, “The use of chemical weapons should never be allowed under any circumstances,” giving his support for a possible U.S. attack on Syria.
To use chemical weapons is of course regarded as a grave act of brutality against humanity and international laws. However, to conduct a unilateral strike against Syria without a resolution of the U.N. Security Council clearly goes against the UN Charter and international laws.
Meanwhile, at the latest preparatory committee of the NPT Review Conference in April, the Japanese government refused to support a joint statement on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, arguing that its stance is contrary to the statement’s denunciation of the use of nuclear weapons “under any circumstances.”
Nagasaki City Mayor Taue Tomihisa criticized the state’s position on nuclear weapons as going against the starting point of the atomic-bombed nation during the city’s peace ceremony on August 9, the 68th anniversary of the A-bombing on Nagasaki. He demanded that the national government take a clear stance before the international society opposing the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and take the lead in the worldwide effort to abolish such weapons.
In terms of how inhumane the consequence would be, there should be no difference between chemical and nuclear weapons. Switching its stance based on the U.S. government’s stance, Japan cannot avoid being regarded as dancing to the U.S. tune.
Past related article:
> Abe betrays the spirit of A-bombed nation (August 10, 2013)
