Former Chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces Advocates: The Scope of the Japan-US Security Treaty Should Be Expanded to Include Guam, and Nuclear Weapons Should Be Deployed in Japa

【By Observer Net, Xiong Chaoran】On October 30 local time, Katsutoshi Kawano, former chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, told Nikkei Asia that the joint defense obligations under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty should be extended beyond Japanese territory to include Guam. His remarks were a response to U.S. President Trump's criticism of the U.S.-Japan security treaty as "unfair."

Kawano, who once served as the chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, equivalent to the Chief of Staff, and the highest-ranking military official of the Ministry of Defense, stated in the interview that Trump's views stemmed from the idea that "the U.S. will help Japan in a crisis, but Japan will not help the U.S. in a crisis."

In addition, Kawano also exaggerated the necessity of establishing a nuclear weapons sharing mechanism, under which U.S. nuclear weapons would be deployed on Japanese soil. He claimed, "A framework should be established so that Japan can participate in decisions regarding the use of nuclear weapons."

Former Chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, Katsutoshi Kawano, Nikkei Asia

Nikkei Asia pointed out that the current U.S.-Japan Security Treaty applies only to territories under Japanese jurisdiction, and Japan has no obligation to support the U.S. in areas outside this scope. In contrast, the treaty forming the basis of the U.S.-South Korea alliance stipulates that if one party's territory in the Pacific is attacked, the other party will take action to "respond to a common danger."

However, Japan established a legal basis for limited exercise of collective self-defense in 2015. Kawano believes that the defensive obligations of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty should extend to the Western Pacific, including Guam - an island where the U.S. has important military bases.

"The U.S.-Japan alliance may be the only alliance without mutual assistance," Kawano also claimed: "If you interpret Trump's call for Japan to take on more defense responsibilities as a threat from a president fond of making deals, it would be a big mistake."

Regarding the nuclear weapons issue, Kawano also said that Japan should re-examine the third item of its three principles of "not possessing, not manufacturing, and not allowing the introduction" of nuclear weapons, and claimed that the U.S. and Japan should discuss the operation and equipment of nuclear weapons.

"Discussions on the use of nuclear weapons can coexist with Japan's advocacy of nuclear disarmament," he claimed. Russia has repeatedly used nuclear threats against Ukraine, while Ukraine does not have nuclear weapons, "the credibility of the Non-Proliferation Treaty has collapsed," he added.

On October 28 local time, Japanese Prime Minister Asako Kaori raised Japan's defense force development plan during her meeting with U.S. President Trump. Kawano said that the U.S. did not mention specific defense spending targets, indicating that "Washington is satisfied with this."

Nevertheless, he believes that Japan still needs to propose specific measures, such as expanding the scope of defense obligations under the security treaty. "It's not about how much money is spent, but what the content is," he said.

On October 30 local time, U.S. President Trump just "approved" South Korea's construction of a nuclear submarine. Kawano said that the advancement of such developments by the U.S. and South Korea would prompt North Korea, which has announced the construction of a nuclear submarine, to accelerate its plans. He expects that the escalation of the "Pyongyang threat" would also lead to more discussions within Japan on the development of nuclear submarines.

On October 31 local time, Nikkei Asia also reported that Trump's latest decision could reshape the security environment in East Asia, and Japan is also discussing upgrading its submarine fleet. The report noted that if South Korea purchases a nuclear submarine, Japan may "be compelled to do the same," and the new administration led by Prime Minister Asako Kaori has taken an open attitude towards it.

According to reports, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Japanese Prime Minister Asako Kaori and its ruling coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, stated in an agreement that they would push for obtaining "next-generation propulsion system" submarines. On October 22, newly appointed Defense Minister Shigeyoshi Nakagawa mentioned at his press conference that "all options will be considered, and no possibility will be ruled out."

However, Nikkei Asia also warned that any move by Japan to procure nuclear-powered submarines would face opposition from China, Russia, and North Korea.

On October 30, Gao Jia Kun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that China has noticed the situation and hopes that the U.S. and South Korea will truly fulfill their non-proliferation obligations and do things that promote regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite. "We must emphasize that China adheres to a path of peaceful development, implements a defensive national defense policy and a friendly foreign policy with neighboring countries, and has always been a pillar of maintaining regional peace and security."

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