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2012 August 22 - 28 TOP3 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

US ‘Armitage Report’ demands Japan’s promotion of nuclear energy worldwide

A new edition of the so-called U.S. “Armitage Report” was published on August 15, urging Japan to promote nuclear energy in the global market jointly with the United States.

The report, titled “The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Anchoring Stability in Asia,” was written by a bipartisan group of experts, including former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Issued in 2000 and again in 2007, the last two editions of the report demanded that Japan exercise the right of collective self-defense, establish a contingency law, and revise the war-renouncing Constitution.

The latest report focuses on energy security. It states that Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko’s restart of two nuclear reactors at the Oi plant despite strong public opposition was “the right and responsible step in our view.”

It adds, “Without a restart of nuclear power plants, Japan will not be able to make meaningful progress toward her goal of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 25 percent by 2020. Nuclear power is and will remain the only substantial source of emissions-free, base load electricity generation.

Safe, clean, responsibly developed and utilized nuclear power constitutes an essential element in Japan’s comprehensive security.”

The report points out that a permanent shutdown of nuclear power plants in Japan will “stymie responsible international nuclear development, as developing countries will continue to build nuclear reactors.”

Expecting that China “could eventually emerge as a significant international vendor”, it stresses, “Japan and the United States have common political and commercial interests in promoting safe and reliable civilian nuclear power domestically and internationally.”