Heads up! This week, Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki made some serious noise. They're urging PM Sanae Takaichi to drop any plans to tweak Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles. 🕊️
Yuzaki reminded everyone that Hiroshima was the world's first atomic bomb target back in 1945. He says Japan's "no nukes" rule – no owning, no making, no allowing nuclear weapons on Japanese soil – has been a pillar of peace since 1967. Relying on nuclear deterrence, he warns, is dangerous. 💡
Suzuki echoed those concerns, stressing that changing these principles would just deepen Japan's dependence on atomic weapons for security. For him, the Three Non-Nuclear Principles are a national credo that shouldn't be messed with.
Here's the backdrop: Japan's current national security strategy, approved by the Cabinet in 2022, reaffirmed the "no nukes" stance. But with the government gearing up to update key security docs by the end of 2026, PM Takaichi is reportedly eyeing a review of the third principle – the ban on allowing nukes into Japanese territory. 🤔
For many young Asian peace advocates, these principles are more than just policy – they're a promise to future generations. Will Japan hold the line, or shift gears in its security approach? Stay tuned as this debate unfolds.
Reference(s):
Hiroshima, Nagasaki leaders urge adherence to non-nuclear principles
cgtn.com
