October 1 : The international community should urge Japan to abide by its “Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday in response to a related question at a regular press conference in Beijing.
Guo Jiakun said whether Japan should possess nuclear weapons is not a matter for debate. Japan is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), under which the country is prohibited from possessing nuclear weapons. The core of Japan’s declared “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” is that it will not possess, manufacture or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory.
He said Japan has obligations under international law regarding nuclear non-proliferation, and there is no room for debate on this matter.
He further noted that in February this year, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles.” At the NPT Review Conference held in May, Japanese representatives also repeatedly confirmed that Japan’s position on these principles would remain unchanged. These statements, he said, are still fresh in everyone’s memory.
The Chinese spokesperson said the current head of Japan’s Defence Ministry had made a “serious provocation” by stating that there were no restrictions on discussing nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered submarines. In his view, the remarks violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the post-World War II international order. He said the statement represents a serious departure from Japan’s declared “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” and once again reveals the ambition of right-wing political forces in Japan to acquire nuclear weapons.
Guo Jiakun also said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trial. He argued that right-wing forces in Japan continue to challenge the post-World War II international order and the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, moving further down the wrong path.
He said the international community should urge Japan to uphold its “Three Non-Nuclear Principles,” strictly fulfil its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, abandon attempts at remilitarization and nuclear weapons acquisition, and sincerely address the grave concerns of the international community.
Source: Ruby, Foysal, Swarna, China Media Group.