Japan Press Weekly

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2021 November 10 - 16 [POLITICS]

Shii criticizes Japanese gov't for opposing possible US 'no first use' nuclear policy

Whether to include a "no first use" policy in a new Nuclear Posture Review is now a focus of discussions in the U.S. Biden administration. Behind the scenes, the Japanese government is reportedly working on the U.S. administration to not adopt the policy.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 11 at a press conference in the Diet building strongly criticized the stance the Japanese government is taking.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu on the previous day expressed an opinion on the "no first use" policy. He said, "Generally speaking, it won't be meaningful unless all nuclear-weapons states verifiably declare the 'no first use' policy all at once." Regarding this statement, Shii said, "Japan has a stance opposing the 'non-preemptive use' of nuclear weapons policy. This is extremely serious."

Shii emphasized, "Declaration of a 'no first use' policy by a nuclear power like the United States will have a major effect in reducing the risk of nuclear war. It is unacceptable for the only atomic-bombed country in the world to oppose the adoption of this policy."

He continued to say, "Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on the one hand says he will pursue a world without nuclear weapons, but on the other hand refuses to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and takes a negative stance towards a 'non-preemptive use' nuclear policy. I demand that Japan respond to global efforts to prevent nuclear war and abolish nuclear weapons."