EDITORIAL: Path to nuke-free world

Hiroshima and Nagasaki have just commemorated the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombings of their cities.

During the peace memorial ceremony in Nagasaki on Monday, Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed his resolve "to proactively propose forward-looking, concrete steps, and to contribute to consensus building in the international community" to achieve "a world without nuclear weapons." Kan's resolve will be tested in the days ahead.

It will be important for Japan to use diplomacy to urge other nations to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their security policies. The world will never come even close to eliminating the various nuclear arsenals as long as it remains bogged down in a Cold War mind-set and continues to depend on nuclear deterrence.

In this year's Peace Declaration, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba last Friday urged the Japanese government to abandon the "U.S. nuclear umbrella." During a news conference held immediately after the mayor's address, Kan stated, "Japan still needs nuclear deterrence." In the sense that it is not realistic for Japan to abandon the nuclear umbrella immediately, we agree with Kan.

But if relying on nuclear deterrence is all Japan is going to do, it rightfully would invite criticism that it is being inconsistent in preaching the elimination of nuclear weapons while remaining under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.

Japan can best convey its anti-nuclear message by showing a firm diplomatic commitment to reducing the world's reliance on nuclear weapons.

There are many things to be done.

In its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) released in April, Washington indicated its readiness to issue a declaration to make it clear that the sole purpose of the U.S. nuclear stockpile is to deter other nuclear powers from using their weapons. It will also pledge not to retaliate against an attack by conventional, biological or chemical weapons with a nuclear strike.

At Japan's initiative, a group of non-nuclear countries will meet for the first time in September. This is an ideal forum for in-depth discussions on the "sole purpose" declaration to be issued by the United States. This group essentially is a coalition of like-minded nations committed to new policies for disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation. Members include U.S. allies Australia and Germany.

In discussing new policies, it will be vital to position arms control at the core of each country's security policy. We do not want to invite an arms race in conventional weapons while working to diminish the role of nuclear weapons. The key to success in Japan's diplomatic efforts lies in promoting specific measures for reinforcing arms control while outgrowing dependence on nuclear weapons.

North Korea, which has conducted underground nuclear tests, remains a major problem. Would a nuclear threat alone be enough to make this desperate dictatorship refrain from going to war? There are many unknowns. Even if the nuclear umbrella cannot be removed, greater efforts are needed to combine diplomacy and deterrence by conventional weapons in dealing effectively with certain situations.

The NPR states unequivocally that the United States will not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear nations that comply with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. This policy amounts to a "negative security assurance." Spreading this message among the nuclear powers will be one way of reducing their reliance on nuclear weapons.

China says it will not resort to pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons. The problem is that it does not have the trust of the international community because of its continued arms buildup. We suggest that Washington and Beijing issue a joint statement on negative security assurance, or work together on preparing a U.N. Security Council resolution. By urging them to take such steps, Japan would add worldwide credibility to Kan's pledge in Nagasaki.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 10