April 26, 2026
Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Shii Kazuo on April 24 submitted to the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Nakamitsu Izumi, and the Japanese Permanent Mission to the UN a JCP proposal calling for the success of the 2026 NPT Review Conference (see below).
Shii, as the head of the JCP delegation, is visiting New York City to take part in the Review Conference which will open on April 27.
In a meeting with Nakamitsu, Shii pointed out that the NPT and the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are essential to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. He expressed his hope for the success of the Review Conference.
Shii noted that the past two conferences failed to release final documents. He stressed that if the conference is again concluded without a final document, this will send a negative message to the international community. He appealed for the need to adopt an outcome document containing proactive measures.
In this regard, Shii said that the JCP made a minimal proposal that “may be adopted by consensus at the Review Conference”.
The JCP proposal includes the following four points:
The first point is that all state parties to the NPT express that they, in compliance with the UN Charter, will refrain from the threat to use or the actual use of force.
The second point is that all state parties reaffirm that they will provide non-nuclear-weapons states with an assurance of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, and flesh out and implement this assurance.
The third point is that in order to break through the stagnation and the setbacks in the implementation of Article 6 of the NPT, items which were confirmed in the previous conferences be reaffirmed, crystalized, and implemented. They are, for example, “an unequivocal undertaking by nuclear-weapons states to eliminate nuclear weapons”, “an expression of deep concern over the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons”, and “special efforts to establish a necessary framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons”.
The fourth point is to give shape to and implement the 1995 NPT Review Conference resolution aimed at making the Middle East a region free from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
Shii said that among the four-point proposal, the first point has particular significance amid widespread lawless wars waged by nuclear-armed states in violation of the UN Charter. Explaining the reason behind the second point, he cited that nuclear powers are overtly threatening non-nuclear states with the use of nuclear arms. Regarding the third point, he pointed to the nuclear-weapons states’ failure to fulfill their nuclear disarmament obligation under Article 6 of the NPT, which undermines trust in the treaty. In regard to the fourth point, Shii said that establishing a nuclear-free zone in the Middel East, including Israel, is extremely important in regard to the ongoing conflicts there.
Shii stressed that under a situation where the security environment over nuclear weapons is deteriorating, the release of a final document agreed upon by all state parties will be highly meaningful.
In response, Nakamitsu said, “We are on the same page. An outcome document must be issued.” She pointed out that as the situation regarding the risk of nuclear war is critical, the 2026 Review Conference should be used as an opportunity to turn the critical situation around in order to implement Article 6. She emphasized the importance of reaffirming the “previous commitments” already made.
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Request to the 2026 NPT Review Conference
Kazuo Shii, Chairperson, Japanese Communist Party
The 2026 NPT Review Conference will be held at a time when wars in violation of the UN Charter are being waged in various parts of the world and humanity faces the grave threat of the use of nuclear weapons.
As a representative of a political party in the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in war, and one that has consistently called for the abolition of nuclear weapons together with the Japanese people, including the hibakusha, we sincerely hope that this NPT Review Conference will achieve results that help resolve the current crisis and advance toward a “world without nuclear weapons.”
We urge this Review Conference to reach the following urgently needed agreements, based on the UN Charter, the NPT, and the final documents of past Review Conferences, and to adopt an outcome document.
1. All States Parties shall declare and adhere to the principle of “refraining from the threat or use of force in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations” (NPT Preamble) and oppose any actions in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, regardless of who commits them.
2. All States Parties shall reaffirm, operationalize, and implement the commitment to “assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons” (2010 Review Conference).
3. To overcome the stagnation and backsliding in the implementation of Article VI of the NPT, the following points confirmed at previous Review Conferences should be reaffirmed and committed to their full implementation:
-- The “unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament” (2000 Review Conference).
-- The expression of the “deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons” (2010 Review Conference).
-- The need to make “special efforts to establish the necessary framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons” (2010 Review Conference).
4. All States Parties shall reaffirm, operationalize, and implement the resolution of the 1995 Review Conference to establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction.
We call on all NPT States Parties to reaffirm and implement the commitments adopted by consensus. We are convinced that, given the deteriorating nuclear security environment, the adoption of an outcome document reaffirming these commitments would carry extremely significant and positive implications.
Many non-nuclear-weapon States have moved beyond the doctrine of “nuclear deterrence” and have created and developed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a concrete manifestation of agreements reached at NPT Review Conferences. The Japanese Communist Party is convinced that advancing this treaty is the surest path to creating a “world without nuclear weapons.”
The question now is what actions the nuclear-weapon States will take to implement Article VI of the NPT, based on the agreements reached at previous Review Conferences.
We once again urge governments and groups of States to engage in frank discussions and adopt a substantive outcome document aimed at achieving a “world without nuclear weapons.”
Shii, as the head of the JCP delegation, is visiting New York City to take part in the Review Conference which will open on April 27.
In a meeting with Nakamitsu, Shii pointed out that the NPT and the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are essential to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. He expressed his hope for the success of the Review Conference.
Shii noted that the past two conferences failed to release final documents. He stressed that if the conference is again concluded without a final document, this will send a negative message to the international community. He appealed for the need to adopt an outcome document containing proactive measures.
In this regard, Shii said that the JCP made a minimal proposal that “may be adopted by consensus at the Review Conference”.
The JCP proposal includes the following four points:
The first point is that all state parties to the NPT express that they, in compliance with the UN Charter, will refrain from the threat to use or the actual use of force.
The second point is that all state parties reaffirm that they will provide non-nuclear-weapons states with an assurance of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, and flesh out and implement this assurance.
The third point is that in order to break through the stagnation and the setbacks in the implementation of Article 6 of the NPT, items which were confirmed in the previous conferences be reaffirmed, crystalized, and implemented. They are, for example, “an unequivocal undertaking by nuclear-weapons states to eliminate nuclear weapons”, “an expression of deep concern over the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons”, and “special efforts to establish a necessary framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons”.
The fourth point is to give shape to and implement the 1995 NPT Review Conference resolution aimed at making the Middle East a region free from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
Shii said that among the four-point proposal, the first point has particular significance amid widespread lawless wars waged by nuclear-armed states in violation of the UN Charter. Explaining the reason behind the second point, he cited that nuclear powers are overtly threatening non-nuclear states with the use of nuclear arms. Regarding the third point, he pointed to the nuclear-weapons states’ failure to fulfill their nuclear disarmament obligation under Article 6 of the NPT, which undermines trust in the treaty. In regard to the fourth point, Shii said that establishing a nuclear-free zone in the Middel East, including Israel, is extremely important in regard to the ongoing conflicts there.
Shii stressed that under a situation where the security environment over nuclear weapons is deteriorating, the release of a final document agreed upon by all state parties will be highly meaningful.
In response, Nakamitsu said, “We are on the same page. An outcome document must be issued.” She pointed out that as the situation regarding the risk of nuclear war is critical, the 2026 Review Conference should be used as an opportunity to turn the critical situation around in order to implement Article 6. She emphasized the importance of reaffirming the “previous commitments” already made.
***
Request to the 2026 NPT Review Conference
Kazuo Shii, Chairperson, Japanese Communist Party
The 2026 NPT Review Conference will be held at a time when wars in violation of the UN Charter are being waged in various parts of the world and humanity faces the grave threat of the use of nuclear weapons.
As a representative of a political party in the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in war, and one that has consistently called for the abolition of nuclear weapons together with the Japanese people, including the hibakusha, we sincerely hope that this NPT Review Conference will achieve results that help resolve the current crisis and advance toward a “world without nuclear weapons.”
We urge this Review Conference to reach the following urgently needed agreements, based on the UN Charter, the NPT, and the final documents of past Review Conferences, and to adopt an outcome document.
1. All States Parties shall declare and adhere to the principle of “refraining from the threat or use of force in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations” (NPT Preamble) and oppose any actions in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, regardless of who commits them.
2. All States Parties shall reaffirm, operationalize, and implement the commitment to “assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons” (2010 Review Conference).
3. To overcome the stagnation and backsliding in the implementation of Article VI of the NPT, the following points confirmed at previous Review Conferences should be reaffirmed and committed to their full implementation:
-- The “unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament” (2000 Review Conference).
-- The expression of the “deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons” (2010 Review Conference).
-- The need to make “special efforts to establish the necessary framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons” (2010 Review Conference).
4. All States Parties shall reaffirm, operationalize, and implement the resolution of the 1995 Review Conference to establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction.
We call on all NPT States Parties to reaffirm and implement the commitments adopted by consensus. We are convinced that, given the deteriorating nuclear security environment, the adoption of an outcome document reaffirming these commitments would carry extremely significant and positive implications.
Many non-nuclear-weapon States have moved beyond the doctrine of “nuclear deterrence” and have created and developed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a concrete manifestation of agreements reached at NPT Review Conferences. The Japanese Communist Party is convinced that advancing this treaty is the surest path to creating a “world without nuclear weapons.”
The question now is what actions the nuclear-weapon States will take to implement Article VI of the NPT, based on the agreements reached at previous Review Conferences.
We once again urge governments and groups of States to engage in frank discussions and adopt a substantive outcome document aimed at achieving a “world without nuclear weapons.”
