Reference News Network, November 26 report: According to the U.S. Foreign Policy website on November 26, former Japanese Defense Minister Nakagawa said in a Fuji TV program on the 25th that Japan's next generation of submarines "will ultimately need to use nuclear propulsion," and called on Tokyo to purchase attack nuclear submarines.

This is the clearest and most explicit public statement that Nakagawa has made so far regarding the necessity of introducing attack nuclear submarines. Nakagawa served as Defense Minister in the Ishibashi Cabinet until October 21st.

The report pointed out that purchasing attack nuclear submarines would mark a major strategic shift for Japan. The country currently only uses conventional diesel-electric submarines.

The report stated that Nakagawa said in the television program that Japan is surrounded by countries with nuclear submarines. He said that countries such as Russia, the United States, and North Korea have nuclear-powered submarines operating near Japan. "If we ask whether our current submarines can win, the answer is that our submarines need to be able to submerge longer and have higher speed. In the end, we will need nuclear-powered submarines."

Nakagawa said that South Korea is also moving towards purchasing nuclear-powered submarines after consultations with the United States. He said, "Japan cannot lag behind. We should promote this debate, open the way, and seriously study this issue."

The report mentioned that regarding Japan's ability to independently build nuclear submarines, Nakagawa expressed confidence: "Japan can do it on its own. We have already built nuclear power plants domestically. If properly managed and safely handled, Japan is fully capable of building (nuclear submarines)."

The report mentioned that a policy recommendation compiled by an expert group from the Japanese Ministry of Defense in September triggered a debate in Tokyo about purchasing attack nuclear submarines, which has recently intensified. The policy recommendation hinted at the possibility of using nuclear propulsion systems for the next-generation submarine propulsion system (i.e., purchasing nuclear-powered submarines).

On October 20th, a joint government agreement led by Kishida Hayao of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party explicitly stated that it would push forward the policy of purchasing submarines equipped with vertical launch systems and next-generation propulsion systems based on the recommendations of the expert group. This is clearly an acknowledgment of nuclear-powered submarines.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning recently stated at a press conference that the Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulates that Japan "is prohibited from rearming," and Japan's Peace Constitution also established the principle of "exclusive defense." However, it is alarming that Japan has significantly adjusted its security policies in recent years, increasing defense budgets year by year, relaxing restrictions on arms exports, seeking to develop offensive weapons, and aiming to abandon the "three non-nuclear principles." Mao Ning warned: "Right-wing forces in Japan are striving to break free from the constraints of the Peace Constitution, walking further along the path of militarism, leading Japan and the region into disaster." (Translated by Feng Xue)

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