PNN – Taro Kono, Japan’s digital minister and one of the options to succeed Fumio Kishida, the country’s prime minister, announced that some Japanese may propose the creation of an independent nuclear deterrent with changes in the US government.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the Japanese politician told Reuters that Tokyo should seek stronger guarantees from Washington on its commitment to Japan’s nuclear defenses to allay concerns that could lead to domestic calls for an independent nuclear arsenal.
Kono, who was previously both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense of Japan, made these statements in the midst of the lack of confidence of the Japanese regarding the results and consequences of the November presidential election in the United States, in which Kamala Harris, the vice president, and Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, are competing.
He said in an interview with Reuters on Friday: If the US government becomes unstable, some Japanese people may suggest that the government build an independent nuclear deterrent.
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However, if Japan announces its intention to abandon nuclear disarmament, South Korea and other countries may follow suit, Kono noted.
As the only country to have experienced an atomic bomb attack, Japan has long abandoned nuclear weapons and instead relies on the United States for deterrence against potential nuclear rivals such as China, North Korea and Russia.
However, in the past, Trump has raised concerns by proposing that Japan should pay for the US’s defense of that country, including with nuclear weapons.
Japan’s large plutonium reserves and access to advanced technology, such as missiles developed for the country’s space program, mean Tokyo has many of the equipment to build nuclear missiles.
Kono said doing so would hurt rather than strengthen Japan’s national security because, aside from proliferation risks, access to the nuclear fuel Japan needs for power plants would likely be cut off during energy shortages.
Kono is one of 10 members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who have said they will run or are considering joining the Sept. 27 election to succeed Kishida.