Japan PM Takaichi avoids firm commitment to 3 non-nuclear principles

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gave an equivocal response on Japan's long-standing Three Non-Nuclear Principles during a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Thursday, stopping short of explicitly pledging that her government would continue to uphold the policy.

Speaking at the memorial ceremony held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Takaichi referred to Japan's current adherence to the principles. However, according to Japan's Mainichi Shimbun, her wording differed subtly from that of previous prime ministers and did not clearly state that Japan would continue to maintain the policy.

The report cited a source close to Takaichi as saying that if the government were to consider revising the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, its official position would remain unchanged until any formal amendment was made. The source suggested that Takaichi's decision to describe only the current situation was intentional.

According to Japan's Kyodo News, opposition politicians also questioned Takaichi's remarks. Junya Ogawa, leader of the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, said Takaichi merely described the status quo without expressing a commitment to maintaining the principles in the future.

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, said Takaichi had simply reiterated the government's long-standing position.

At a press conference following the ceremony, Takaichi declined to say whether the government would continue to uphold the Three Non-Nuclear Principles in its planned revision of Japan's three key national security documents. She said the revision process is still underway and that it would be premature to comment on the final content.

Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which prohibit possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japanese territory, were formally adopted by the Japanese parliament in 1971 and have since become the cornerstone of the country's nuclear policy.

Japanese media have previously reported that Takaichi's government is considering revising the principle of not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons as part of an update to the country's three key national security documents expected by the end of this year.

In July, Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi publicly argued during a television program that Japan should discuss nuclear weapons-related policies "without taboo," including whether to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. The series of nuclear-related developments has fueled growing concern across Japanese society over the country's future nuclear policy.