Staying Away from Nuclear Prohibition Treaty

The government of Japan decided not to participate in the conference of parties of Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled to be held in the United States in March. Although the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Nihon Hidankyo, firmly demanded Japan to join the conference at least as an observer, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dismissed the request. Japan looks like shackled with nuclear deterrence offered by the United States. 

The treaty was resolved in a conference of the United Nations in 2017 and was enacted in 2021. It prohibits member countries development, possession and using of any nuclear weapons. However, some countries with nuclear weapons, including the US, Russia and China, and others relying their security on umbrella of nuclear powers have not signed or ratified.

 

Some European countries, including Germany, Norway and Belgium, have participated in past conferences of parties as observers, regardless they were relying on nuclear powers in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The sufferers of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 repeatedly requested Japanese government to join the treaty.

 

The members of Nihon Hidankyo met with Ishiba at Prime Minister’s Office earlier this month, requesting Japan’s participation to the conference as an observer. Ishiba did not make any meaningful reply on this issue. Even the coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, urged the LDP to consider the participation to it.

 

In a discussion in the Diet last month, Ishiba showed reluctance to the treaty. “I do not have an idea of denying a concept called extended deterrence,” said Ishiba. Extended deterrence is a security policy of Japan provided by the US. The US is expected to project its nuclear deterrence to other countries. While former administration of Japan including Shinzo Abe’s liked to use this term, there has been an argument whether it is right for Japan to be under deterrence of nuclear weapons.

 

Hibakushas define nuclear weapons as absolute evil. They were disappointed with the decision of Japanese government defying their request. “I can’t help get angry to the government which denies participation, in spite of its standpoint as the only country once suffered from nuclear bombs,” told Toshiyuki Mimaki, one of the sufferers of atomic bomb affiliated to Hidankyo.

 

Ishiba administration considers sending some lawmakers of LDP and Komeito to the conference. However, participation of leading coalition does not represent Japan’s hope to eliminate nuclear weapons. Not only Ishiba, Prime Ministers of Japan has not shown clear stance for prohibiting nuclear weapons, as they have been afraid of negative impact on Japan-US bilateral relations.

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