|
|
 Japan Brief |
| 【Japan Brief】Foreign Minister Nakasone Proposes “11 Benchmarks” for Global Nuclear Disarmament |
Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0923
April 30, 2009
Foreign Minister Nakasone Proposes
“11 Benchmarks” for Global Nuclear Disarmament
In a speech delivered in Tokyo on April 27 at a meeting hosted by the Japan Institute of International Affairs, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone outlined the Japanese government’s stance aiming for comprehensive nuclear disarmament. In the speech, which was titled “Conditions Towards Zero: 11 Benchmarks for Global Nuclear Disarmament,” Foreign Minister Nakasone explained “Japan’s strong resolve to play the leading role in promoting global nuclear disarmament” and announced the government’s intention to hold an international conference related to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation in Japan early next year. The aim of this conference, he said, will be “to encourage concerted actions by the international community to promote global nuclear disarmament” aiming toward the success of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference to be held in May 2010.
Foreign Minister Nakasone began his speech by expressing his support for the vision of a world without nuclear weapons described by US President Barack Obama in a speech delivered in Prague on April 5. The Foreign Minister also strongly criticized North Korea’s launch of a missile on the same day, saying that Pyongyang’s development of ballistic missiles and its nuclear development were a “serious threat” to the entire international community.
“11 Benchmarks” Proposal
The “11 benchmarks” that Foreign Minister Nakasone proposed for advancing global nuclear disarmament are based on three major pillars: (1) measures by countries possessing nuclear weapons; (2) measures by the international community as a whole; and (3) measures for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Regarding measures by countries possessing nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Nakasone urged the United States and Russia, which together possess more than 90% of the nuclear weapons in the world, to further reduce the number of their nuclear warheads, and called on such nuclear-weapons states as China, India, and Pakistan to enhance the transparency of their arsenals and freeze their development of nuclear weapons, including missiles.
Regarding measures by the international community as a whole, Foreign Minister Nakasone called for efforts to promote the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), expressed his hope that the Obama administration in the United States would ratify the CTBT as soon as possible, and declared that Japan would press China, India, Pakistan, and other countries to ratify the treaty as well. The foreign minister also called on Iran, which is expanding its uranium-enrichment activities, to cooperate with inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency and criticized North Korea’s ballistic missile launch as a “serious threat” to the entire international community because the missile could be used as a means of transporting a nuclear weapon.
Regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Foreign Minister Nakasone called for the tightened management of nuclear substances so as to prevent nuclear terrorism and said that Japan would continue providing assistance for human resource development and other support to countries that are newly introducing nuclear power generation.
On April 29 Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Beijing and held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. According to a report in the Asahi Shimbun (April 30) regarding the nuclear problem, Prime Minister Aso said, “In the United States, the Obama administration has been inaugurated and is adopting a different position than previously. I want China also to cooperate in order to reduce the number of nuclear weapons.” Stating China’s usual position, Premier Wen replied, “China has consistently advocated a complete ban on nuclear weapons. We have promised not to use nuclear weapons first.”
Newspaper Editorials on Foreign Minister Nakasone’s Speech
The main newspaper editorials on Foreign Minister Nakasone’s speech in principle welcomed the government’s indication of more active involvement in the issue of nuclear disarmament. Regarding the specific policies required of Japan, however, the newspapers presented opinions from their different standpoints.
The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial (April 30), headlined “Concrete steps needed to achieve N-free world,” commented, “For Japan, what is particularly worrying are China’s actions. Britain, France, Russia, and the United States have disclosed information on such matters as the number of nuclear warheads they possess and have engaged in arms-reduction efforts. But China has never disclosed such information nor has it taken steps toward reducing its nuclear arms. There are even signs that China is actually beefing up its nuclear capabilities. It has deployed a new type of nuclear submarine carrying SLBMs [submarine-launched ballistic missiles] at Hainan Island in the South China Sea. It also is said to be developing a new type of SLBM that has a much longer range.” Furthermore, it warned, “A far greater threat is North Korea’s nuclear development. Pyongyang has declared it has resumed reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Even if steps for nuclear disarmament are taken worldwide, regional peace and security would face a serious crisis if North Korea succeeded in developing a small nuclear arsenal.”
The Mainichi Shimbun editorial (April 28), titled “Take the lead in nuclear disarmament,” said with regard to the idea of an international conference aimed at nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, “It is extremely unusual for Japan to host an international conference of this type. As the only country in the world to have suffered atomic bombings and with a national policy based on the ‘three nonnuclear principles’ [not possessing, manufacturing, or permitting the entry into Japan of nuclear weapons], Japan’s offer to play a leading role in the field of nuclear disarmament is significant.” Noting that one of the reasons why the last NPT Review Conference in 2005 ended without producing any results was the negative approach of the US administration of then President George W. Bush toward nuclear disarmament, the Mainichi concluded, “Reflecting on this position, the Obama administration is advocating the strengthening of the NPT as one pillar in its comprehensive strategy toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. . . . Japan, which does not possess nuclear weapons but is a major power in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, is just the right country to serve in a mediating role, eliminating distrust between the nuclear and nonnuclear states and restoring trust in the NPT regime.”
Under the headline “Nuclear disarmament: Aso needs to make clear his stance on the issue,” the Asahi editorial (April 29) stated, “We applaud Nakasone’s enthusiasm for addressing the issue and hope that the international conference on nuclear disarmament that Japan plans to host next year will be a success. Unfortunately, however, Nakasone’s speech was not entirely satisfactory. He fell short of explaining Japan’s own initiatives to contribute to the cause as the only country that has ever suffered nuclear attacks.” Requesting Prime Minister Aso to clearly convey his position on the issue of nuclear disarmament, it went on, “The key question is how to ensure stability in East Asia while reducing the role of nuclear weapons in the security structure in the area. The nations concerned need to tackle the tough job of developing a new regional security framework that is beneficial for China, Japan, and other countries in the region. But Nakasone made no substantial reference to this issue in his speech. What is most disappointing, though, is that Prime Minister Taro Aso has entrusted Nakasone to deal with all issues in this challenge.”
The Nikkei editorial (April 28), headlined “Preach ‘Nakasone disarmament’ to the world,” began by saying that Foreign Minister Nakasone’s speech “resonated with US President Barack Obama’s speech in Prague and was a comprehensive proposal adding Japan’s position. Nakasone made specific rather than ideological points. In particular, it is significant that he urged China also to engage in nuclear disarmament. We hope that his speech is transmitted throughout the world.” The Nikkei added, “It goes without saying that China’s nuclear disarmament is especially important for Japan’s national security.” It continued, “Until now China has not necessarily been conscious of nuclear disarmament as a problem that involves itself. Since there is a large difference in the number of nuclear warheads possessed by the United States and Russia on the one hand and China on the other, it is indeed reasonable to argue that reductions by the United States and Russia should come first. But for neighboring Japan, the fact that China is the largest nuclear power in East Asia weighs very heavily.”
(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center, Japan)
*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.
＜Related Articles＞
-US President Obama Lays Out Overall Strategy Toward Nuclear-Free World(2009-04-09)
|
|
|
|
