Non-nuclear principles bind Japan's governments -- Akahata editorial, June 11

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro in the House of Representatives stated that the Three Non-nuclear Principles "shall not be altered by my cabinet, but I am uncertain of subsequent cabinets." It was during an intensive discussion in a Lower House committee over Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo's remarks that the government may alter the Three Non-nuclear Principles in future.

The prime minister rejected Japan's responsibility to take the initiative in eliminating nuclear weapons, the basic idea underlying the Three Non-nuclear Principles.

Asked if there is a possibility in the future for the government to make a political judgment on possessing nuclear weapons depending on international circumstances and public opinion, Fukuda answered, "I can't answer for future policies."

Prime minister's option

The chief cabinet secretary's remarks of animosity towards the Three Non-nuclear Principles have come under the fire of public criticism and become a major issue. Yet the prime minister and the chief cabinet secretary did not deny the possibility in the future of Japan possessing nuclear weapons and altering the Three Non-nuclear Principles. This is because they think that alteration should be a future option depending on international circumstances.

This is why the chief cabinet secretary in his Diet reply still maintains his argument that there should be a nationwide discussion on security including the Three Non-Nuclear Principles in accordance with the need of the times and the international situation.

The Three Non-nuclear Principles are the core of Japan's call to the world for eliminating nuclear weapons, as the only A-bombed country in the world, clearly stating that humanity can't co-exist with nuclear weapons.

Therefore, every government in the past had to state that the Three Non-nuclear Principles are indisputable policy.

The Koizumi Cabinet is different from past cabinets in that it says that the three principles may be altered in the future depending on international circumstances.

This is the reason why the Japanese people are enraged at the chief cabinet secretary's remarks, and many countries in Asia and the rest of the world are alarmed at and suspicious of the remarks.

Intensive discussion in parliament on this question showed that this attitude of the Koizumi Cabinet stems from its going against the major world movement calling for nuclear weapons to be eliminated.

Prime Minister Koizumi says that he will make efforts to get nuclear weapons eliminated. But the problem is whether or not Japan will take the lead in the international movement for that end.

At the 2000 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, the nuclear weapon states, including the United States, had to agree on the unequivocal undertaking to eliminate nuclear weapons within a definite period of time. The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution by an overwhelming majority endorsing the NPT Review Conference's conclusion.

Going against the international trend, Prime Minister Koizumi supports the U.S. Bush administration which intends to develop new nuclear weapons and use them in its missile defense system, saying that the U.S. is doing so for its own special reasons. This shows that the Koizumi Cabinet thinks it possible for Japan to possess nuclear weapons in the future.

Japan lost the confidence of the world people when they realized that the Koizumi Cabinet has no self-reflection on the war of aggression nor has any independent foreign policy, only following the U.S. The world confidence in the Koizumi Cabinet has been completely lost now that its position on nuclear weapons has become clear.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda blamed the media for falsely reporting his remark. But his excuse can't be justified as all newspapers reported in the words that he used, "Now that debates are openly going on concerning constitutional amendment, it's possible for the three non-nuclear principles to also be changed." Fukuda must be forced to resign.

Disqualified to run the government

So shameful are the ruling parties that they support the Koizumi Cabinet's behavior, and cheer Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda.

Fukuda said that any cabinet won't be safe if it tries to make a big change in the Three Non-nuclear Principles. What he said is exactly true and the Koizumi Cabinet is not qualified anymore to run the government. This matter won't end unless all problems are cleared. We must drive the Koizumi Cabinet into a tight corner and out of power. (end)