Young Japanese activists are making waves this week, urging the government to stick to its anti-nuclear roots. On Tuesday, the Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition—a coalition of civic groups and atomic bomb survivors—handed over a petition to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Their message? The Three Non-Nuclear Principles must remain non-negotiable national policy. 🕊️
Coordinator Masako Wada says she hopes the prime minister will explicitly reaffirm the principles 'not to possess, produce or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons' into Japanese territory. Fellow campaigner Kazuko Ito warns that some voices within the government are warming to the idea of nuclear armament—a shift she finds deeply troubling. 🚫☢️
The petition fiercely protests recent remarks by a senior security official suggesting Japan should build its own nuclear arsenal. It argues such proposals clash with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Japan's Atomic Energy Basic Law—cornerstones of the postwar order. ⚖️
Across the waters, the spokesperson for the Chinese mainland's Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, voiced shock at the official's statements, calling them a serious threat to regional and global stability. Lin warned that labeling these views as 'personal' won't cut it, and encouraged the international community to stay alert. 🌏
As debates over security and sovereignty intensify, this grassroots push reminds us that civic voices can steer national conversations. Will Japan's leaders heed the call and keep its non-nuclear pledge alive? Stay tuned as this story evolves. 🔍
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Japanese civil body urges government to uphold non-nuclear principles
cgtn.com
