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Japan's Premier Takaichi avoids clear pledge on non-nuclear principles at Hiroshima ceremony

By The South Asia Times

HIROSHIMA – Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday failed to explicitly pledge that Japan will maintain its three nonnuclear principles, simply stating the government "is upholding" the long-held policy as the country marked the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

At a press conference after attending the annual memorial ceremony, Takaichi said Japan would promote "realistic and practical" efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons, according to Kyodo News.

However, she stopped short of directly committing to the principles of not producing, possessing, or allowing nuclear weapons on Japanese territory.

Her government is reportedly considering rethinking the three principles as it plans to revise key national security documents by year-end.

"It's premature to comment on the final form of the wording as we are in the middle of work to revise the documents," Takaichi told reporters. Previous prime ministers, including Shigeru Ishiba and Fumio Kishida, had reaffirmed the nonnuclear principles in their Hiroshima anniversary speeches.

Earlier this week, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi sparked controversy by saying Japan should discuss nuclear policy "without any taboos" – remarks that drew strong concern from China and the international community. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian warned that "Japan's neomilitarism has already reared its head" and urged global vigilance.

At the ceremony, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui called on world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons, cautioning that "downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force risks another Hiroshima or Nagasaki". A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., marking the exact time the atomic bomb detonated over the city on August 6, 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people.

A record 123 countries and regions sent representatives to the ceremony, as survivors of the bombings – now averaging 86 years old – continue their lifelong advocacy for global nuclear disarmament

Japan's Premier Takaichi avoids clear pledge on non-nuclear principles at Hiroshima ceremony

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