Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was quick to walk back the official’s remarks, insisting she adheres to Japan’s “three non-nuclear principles”—not possessing, producing, or hosting nuclear weapons—that date from 1967. However, Takaichi has also said that the “hosting” prohibition may be inconsistent with U.S. security guarantees if it prevented American nuclear submarines docking in Japan. Taro Kono, a former defense and foreign minister, went further, insisting that Japan should not shy away from an open debate on acquiring nuclear weapons.
Such suggestions are anathema to historic rival China, where a Foreign Ministry spokesman warned Japan going nuclear would “bring disaster to the world.” This is not least because of Takaichi’s recent remarks that Japan could be drawn into any conflict over Taiwan, which sent relations with Beijing spiraling.
Taiwan itself once harbored nuclear ambitions though was strongarmed into abandoning its secret program by the U.S. in 1988. Taipei resurrecting a nuclear program would be extremely risky, given it would hand Beijing a giftwrapped excuse for invasion, though it’s still “possible,” says Thakur. Even in Australia, the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons has slowly migrated from crackpot mutterings to fringe discourse.
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