High-ranking official remains noncommittal on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and revisions to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles
According to a report by Nagasaki Shimbun on October 31, mayors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima met with Sanae Takaichi at the Prime Minister's Office. Japan will attend as an observer at the first review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled to begin in November at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The two mayors urged the Japanese government to take a leading role in advancing global nuclear disarmament. Takaichi offered no clear response, reiterating the government’s longstanding position of “careful consideration.”
The meeting lasted approximately ten minutes.
As described by the mayors, Takaichi reiterated that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a significant instrument that could serve as a key pathway toward a world free of nuclear weapons, while noting that security challenges necessitate cautious deliberation.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime includes both nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states.
In a subsequent interview, Mayor Suzuki expressed disappointment that Takaichi offered no new statements. However, he emphasized shared recognition of the treaty’s importance and affirmed continued advocacy for Japan’s participation.
Specifically, Mayor Suzuki called for maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, describing them as a prerequisite for engagement in the review process. Takaichi did not respond. Suzuki also called for support for survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki who have not been officially recognized.
Reports indicate that Takaichi stated she had responded appropriately, citing the expansion of medical expense subsidies during the Kishida administration as evidence of adequate support for the growing number of survivors.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880538428873740/
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