Revision of Three Non-Nuclear Principles

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi considers revising the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which has been a basis of security policy of Japan. Takaichi insists on redefining a concept “not to host nuclear weapons,” one of the three principles that determines relationship between Japan and nuclear weapons. Takaichi is changing the shape of a country that is known as seeking eternal peace from the lesson of devastation with nuclear weapons in a war. 

The Three Non-Nuclear Principles were established in 1967 by former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato who was awarded 1974 Nobel Peace Prize. The principles declare that Japan does not produce, possess or host nuclear weapons. It was revealed that Japan once had a secret agreement with the United Statas for accepting U.S. vessels that loaded nuclear weapons or introducing nuclear weapons in Okinawa in a contingency.

 

National Security Strategy (NSS) in 2022, which consists of one of the three security documents revised by Fumio Kishida administration, determines maintenance of the principles. “As a peace-loving nation, Japan will adhere to the basic policy of maintaining an exclusively national defense-oriented policy, not becoming a military power that poses a threat to other countries, and observing the Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” describes the document.

 

Asked whether she would succeed that basic concept in the NSS in the Committee on Budget of House of Representatives on November 11th, Takaichi did not gave a clear answer to it. While she has announced revision of the three security documents in 2022, Takaichi refused to explain how those documents, including description of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, would be revised.

 

It was four days later when the newspapers reported that Takaichi began to discuss revision of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles in the leading coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan Innovation Party (JIP). It is supposed that Takaichi has a concern that one of the three principles, not hosting nuclear weapons, may erode efficiency of nuclear deterrence of the U.S. on which Japan’s security depends.

 

In her candidacy for LDP president in 2024, Takaichi argued that the principle of not hosting nuclear weapons would not be realistic, if Japan relies on “extended deterrence” of the U.S. There are arguments in the LDP that Takaichi government should not mention maintenance of the principle or should rewrite it based on reliance of nuclear deterrence.

 

Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Katsuya Okada, said in 2010 that the government would make a decision with determination and explain to the people, in a case which Japan cannot keep its safety without accepting entry of a port by a vessel with nuclear weapons. Because Okada’s statement has been kept by later administrations, including Takaichi’s, as an exclusive case of not hosting nuclear weapons, there is another argument that revision of the three principles is not necessary.

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