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2022 March 2 - 8 [POLITICS]

JCP Kokuta: Maintaining Japan-Russia nuclear power pact is impermissible

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Kokuta Keiji on March 4 demanded that Japan rethink the Japan-Russia nuclear energy agreement as a pact which allows Japan's exports of nuclear power plants while Russia is shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in southern Ukraine.

Japan signed the pact with Russia in 2009 to transfer nuclear materials, equipment and technologies related to nuclear energy under the condition of "peaceful uses".

Kokuta at a Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on the day pointed out that since the signing of the agreement, there had been concern over limited safeguard controls such as inspections of nuclear power facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He also pointed out that Diet discussions had revealed that to obtain proof of Russia not using Japanese nuclear-related materials for military purposes would be extremely difficult.

Touching upon the latest news reports that Russia is shelling the nuclear power plant, Kokuta said, "Obviously, Russia is failing to abide by the condition 'for peaceful purposes'."

Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said in response, "The pact is a framework to secure peaceful use, but the government is not considering reviewing the bilateral agreement at this point."

Kokuta said that Prime Minister Kishida, when he was foreign minister in 2014, responded to a Diet question by saying, "Taking into account the political and security situation in the country, the government will consider rearranging the nuclear power pact." Kokuta stated, "Judging from the current situation, Japan must rethink the agreement with Russia."