Another Chinese representative told the conference that “the issue of Japan’s pursuit of nuclear weapons has become a reality rather than a potential threat” since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office last autumn. The representative said this was “posing a serious challenge” to the post-World War II international order and the nuclear nonproliferation regime.
Tomiko Ichikawa, Japan’s ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, rejected the allegations, saying “the introduction of nuclear weapons (by Japan) is not permitted” under the three non-nuclear principles.
Ichikawa said, “Japan has been limiting its research, development and use of nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes”.
She added that Japan “will continue to work closely with the international community to realise a world without nuclear weapons” and “will continue to advance realistic and practical efforts to maintain and strengthen the NPT regime”.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
