Opposition Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) said Japan should discuss “sharing” the possession of nuclear weapons and reassess its long-held three non-nuclear principles in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Osaka-based party will submit its emergency proposals to the government on March 2.
The proposals said that one lesson learned from Russia’s full-scale military assault on Ukraine is that “a non-nuclear-weapons state is at higher risk of being invaded by a nuclear state.”
The conservative party said the Japanese government should no longer regard the topic of possessing nuclear weapons as taboo, and it should start debate on sharing possession of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
On Feb. 28, party leader Ichiro Matsui suggested a rethink was needed for the three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction to Japan of nuclear weapons.
He told reporters that Japan should not insist on sticking with the values of a bygone era when a nuclear power is now waging war.
Nippon Ishin also softened its long-held stance that nuclear power stations should be “phased out.” Its proposals said Japan “needs to consider resuming operations (of nuclear power plants) under certain conditions” to ensure a stable supply of energy.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe brought up the “nuclear sharing” topic during a TV program aired by Fuji Television Network Inc. on Feb. 27, three days after Russia started its invasion.
The Osaka-based party will submit its emergency proposals to the government on March 2.
The proposals said that one lesson learned from Russia’s full-scale military assault on Ukraine is that “a non-nuclear-weapons state is at higher risk of being invaded by a nuclear state.”
The conservative party said the Japanese government should no longer regard the topic of possessing nuclear weapons as taboo, and it should start debate on sharing possession of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
On Feb. 28, party leader Ichiro Matsui suggested a rethink was needed for the three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction to Japan of nuclear weapons.
He told reporters that Japan should not insist on sticking with the values of a bygone era when a nuclear power is now waging war.
Nippon Ishin also softened its long-held stance that nuclear power stations should be “phased out.” Its proposals said Japan “needs to consider resuming operations (of nuclear power plants) under certain conditions” to ensure a stable supply of energy.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe brought up the “nuclear sharing” topic during a TV program aired by Fuji Television Network Inc. on Feb. 27, three days after Russia started its invasion.