This week, on December 18, a senior security advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi argued that Japan should develop nuclear weapons to face growing regional threats. 🌍
But boosting Japan’s nuclear capability could shake the foundations of the post-war international order built on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). 🚫☢️
Key takeaways:
- Japan, a non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT, is legally barred from acquiring nuclear arms.
- Its Three Non-Nuclear Principles—no possession, no production, no introduction—are binding international commitments.
- Allowing US 'nuclear sharing' on Japanese soil would breach core NPT obligations and blur legal lines.
- A nuclear-armed Japan could spark a regional arms race and weaken global non-proliferation.
Hang on—Japan has long used its history as the only country to suffer atomic bombings to champion nuclear non-proliferation. Abandoning these promises could deeply damage its credibility and moral authority.
🧐 Looking ahead: Will Japan stick to its anti-nuclear promise or chart a new path? Young leaders and global citizens alike should watch closely as this debate unfolds.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
