Japan's prime ministerial hopeful, Taro Kono, has called for stronger assurances from the United States regarding its commitment to Japan's nuclear defense. This move aims to quell domestic calls for an independent nuclear arsenal amid uncertainties surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Key Takeaways
Taro Kono, a candidate for Japan's prime minister, seeks stronger U.S. assurances on nuclear defense.
Concerns arise due to the upcoming U.S. presidential election and its potential impact on U.S.-Japan relations.
Japan has long renounced nuclear weapons, relying on the U.S. for deterrence.
Kono warns that Japan developing its own nuclear arsenal could lead to regional proliferation.
Kono is one of about 10 candidates in the upcoming leadership election to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Kono's Call for U.S. Assurances
Taro Kono, who currently oversees Japan's digital transformation and has previously served as both foreign and defense minister, emphasized the need for Tokyo to seek stronger assurances from Washington. This comes amid uncertainties over the U.S. presidential election, which features Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump as contenders.
"If the U.S. government becomes unstable, some people in Japan might suggest that Japan develop an independent nuclear deterrent," Kono stated in a recent interview.
Japan's Nuclear Stance
Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic bomb attacks, has long renounced nuclear weapons. Instead, it relies on the United States to deter potential nuclear-armed rivals such as China, North Korea, and Russia. However, past comments from Trump have raised concerns about the U.S. commitment, including suggestions that Japan should pay the U.S. for its defense, even with nuclear weapons.
Risks of an Independent Nuclear Arsenal
Kono highlighted that Japan's large plutonium stockpile and advanced technology, such as rockets developed for its space program, mean it has many of the components needed to build nuclear missiles. However, he warned that developing an independent nuclear arsenal would hurt rather than strengthen Japan's national security. Apart from proliferation risks, it would likely cut off access to the nuclear fuel Japan needs for its power plants, especially during tight energy supplies.
Upcoming Leadership Election
Kono is one of about 10 members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who have announced their candidacy or are considering running in the leadership election on September 27 to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This election comes amid rising consumer prices, a weak yen, and sluggish economic growth.
Economic Reforms and Currency Stability
Kono has also outlined his economic plans, which include reforming labor markets to boost salaries for part-time workers and supporting measures to retrain workers for higher-paying jobs. He aims to use data-driven technology to enhance productivity. Additionally, Kono believes that a stronger yen would benefit Japan's economy, which has seen the currency decline from 114 against the dollar in 2021 to 142 recently.
"The Japanese economy will be better off with a stronger yen than before," Kono said. "I think whatever the rate is, it needs to be stable."
Sources
Japan PM hopeful Kono calls for US assurances to deter nuclear ambitions | Reuters, Reuters.
Japan PM hopeful Kono calls for US assurances to deter nuclear ambitions, Yahoo.
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