JCP Chair Shii criticizes DPJ leader Hatoyama for calling for adverse revision of Three Non-Nuclear Principles

Japan Press Weekly

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JCP Chair Shii criticizes DPJ leader Hatoyama for calling for adverse revision of Three Non-Nuclear Principles

Democratic Party President Hatoyama Yukio recently suggested that Japan's national policy of Three Non-Nuclear Principles be reviewed.

On July 16, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo criticized Hatoyama for trying to reduce the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" to "Two Non-Nuclear Principles" and emphasized the importance of holding fast to the fundamental objective of truly making Japan nuclear-free.

Pointing out that Hatoyama's "My Draft of New Constitution," published in 2005, dropped the third and key principle of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, viz. not to allow bringing-in of nuclear weapons to Japan, Shii warned that this is very dangerous because he was actually attempting to reduce the Three Non-Nuclear Principles to a "Two Non-Nuclear Principles."

Recently, former senior Foreign Ministry officials revealed that there exists a Japan-U.S. secret agreement providing that U.S. forces are allowed to bring in nuclear weapons into Japanese territory on ships and aircraft.

Shii said, "The DPJ is being called upon to choose between two ways, one to introduce a policy of allowing the U.S. nuclear weapons to be brought into Japanese territory by throwing away the goal for a "nuclear-free Japan," and the other to make every possible effort to keep Japan completely nuclear weapons free by disclosing the truth about the secret agreement."

"Of course, the JCP strives to make Japan totally nuclear-free. If a non-nuclear Japan is established, it will enable the government of Japan, the only atomic bombed nation in the world, to take the initiative for a nuclear weapon-free world. As regards North Korea's nuclear program, a non-nuclear government will launch effective diplomatic efforts to urge North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons," Shii added.

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What is Hatoyama aiming for?

Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles have become a focal matter for debate after several former deputy foreign ministers testified to the existence of a secret Japan-U.S. nuclear agreement.

DPJ President Hatoyama Yukio, taking advantage of the revelation, actually reiterated his support for the bilateral secret nuclear pact as well as the bringing-in of nuclear weapons to Japan.

The secret Japan-U.S. nuclear deal is an agreement that allows U.S. warships and warplanes carrying nuclear weapons to enter ports or land on airbases in Japan without holding due prior consultations with Japan, which are required in the case of "introduction of nuclear weapons", namely unloading such weapons onto Japanese soil. This secret pact was concluded in 1960, when the old Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was revised.

The government has confirmed adherence to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as a national policy of Japan since 1968. After the secret nuclear agreement was concluded, however, the third of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles (i.e., not to allow nuclear weapons to be brought into Japan) was abandoned.

In a media interview held on July 14, Hatoyama said his personal view is that "the government has had to maintain the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as part of its pragmatic approach to the regional situation" and that "Japan had taken a realistic approach out of necessity, such as regarding the North Korea problem."

This remark drew public criticism, and Hatoyama had to make adjustments to his views in this regard.

At the press conference on the following day, Hatoyama pointed out that "entry of such U.S. vessels is no longer necessary for Japan," and that "It will be most desirable to openly abide by the 'three non-nuclear principles' if the DPJ takes the reins of government."

However, Hatoyama also said that it is necessary to discuss the issue of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles between Japan and the U.S., hinting at the need for the national policy to be reviewed.

While stating that it is ridiculous for the government to deny the existence of the secret nuclear agreement even after the revelation of declassified U.S. documents, Hatoyama on July 15 told the press that it was imperative for the government to make a secret agreement on the bringing-in of nuclear weapons into Japan.

Two alternatives

Hatoyama's assertion can be seen against the background of his repeated assertion that the Three Non-Nuclear Principles should be replaced by Two Non-Nuclear Principles.

In his "My Draft of New Constitution", Hatoyama wrote in its Article 53 that the development, production, and possession of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons as well as biological and chemical weapons, shall be prohibited. He in fact intended to delete the third principle of "not to allow bringing-in of nuclear weapons to Japan."

With the recent revelations concerning the secret Japan-U.S. nuclear agreement, the government has almost been driven into a corner where it can no longer deny the existence of the secret pact.

With the possibility emerging that his party might replace the LDP to lead a new government after the next House of Representatives general election, the DPJ is called upon to make clear whether it will accept the secret agreement allowing the bringing-in of nuclear weapons into Japan, and thereby distorting the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, or making a thorough investigation into the secret agreement coupled with efforts to make a nuclear weapons-free Japan (in response to U.S. President Obama's appeal for "a world without nuclear weapons.")

- Akahata, July 17, 2009