Don’t Bomb Iran

JAPAN should study the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons in the future, says former prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, because its US security blanket may not last forever. He’s considered a security mentor to the likely next right-wing Japanese PM, Mr Abe, who has already promised to work towards a revision of Article 9 of the country’s pacifist constitution to remove brakes on “normal” military activities by Japan’s forces, writes the The Australian newspaper.

Tokyo urged to consider N-bombs
Peter Alford, Tokyo correspondent
07sep06

JAPAN should study the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons, says former prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, because its US security blanket cannot be guaranteed to last forever.

Mr Nakasone’s call for the next government to consider nuclear weapons and to prepare an independent defence strategy comes from a man who as prime minister from 1982 to 1987 was the most outspoken Japanese leader in support of the US security alliance.

Mr Nakasone, 88, now runs a think tank focused on security issues, the Institute for International Policy Studies, and is thought to be manoeuvring to become a mentor on international strategy to Shinzo Abe.

Mr Abe, who is virtually certain to become prime minister on September 26, shares many of the older man’s views of military priorities.

The hawkish Mr Abe, 51, wants the US alliance to remain the bedrock of Japan’s security arrangements, but for his country to develop a more independent defence strategy against direct threats, in particular from China and North Korea.

Mr Abe has already promised to work towards a revision of Article 9 of the country’s pacifist constitution to remove brakes on “normal” military activities by Japan’s forces.

But as the leadership changeover approaches, it seems many in Japan’s security community and the right wing of the Liberal Democratic Party are pushing for a more thorough rethink of Japan’s security options.

The US administration, like its predecessors, is fundamentally opposed to Japan acquiring an independent nuclear capability because of the potential to destabilise a tense region.

North Korea’s July 5 test-firing of seven ballistic missiles - several of which were Rodongs, a type already aimed at Japan - has jolted forward this process and raised a fundamental question: whether the US is committed to defending Japan under every eventuality.

Mr Abe’s history shows him to be sympathetic to this thinking. After the July 5 tests, he repeated an interpretation of Article 9 adopted by the mid-1950s Hatoyama government that self-defence allows a pre-emptive strike at missiles that are menacing Japan.

Four years ago, Mr Abe caused a stir when he said the constitution allowed Japan to possess “defensive” nuclear weapons, though he did not say whether he thought it should.

Mr Nakasone does not advocate acquiring nuclear weapons - it is commonly estimated Japan could “go nuclear” within 12 months of a decision to do so - but says it must study the possibility.

While Japan and the US remain in a partnership, he released a paper calling for a new fundamental law on security and said Japan should remain a non-nuclear power and work to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.