Debate on Nuclear Policy Intensifies in Japan Amid Rising Tensions with China, Questions on U.S. Nuclear Umbrella

TOKYO: As tensions with China escalate, Japan is witnessing a heated debate over its nuclear policy. Senior ruling party leader and former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera on Sunday emphasized the need to review Japan’s non-nuclear principles, while former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba argued that acquiring nuclear weapons would not benefit the country.

Recently, an anonymous official told Asahi Shimbun that Japan should consider possessing nuclear weapons, echoing remarks made a month ago by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, sparking widespread debate.

Reliance on the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella

Onodera, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Security Research Council, highlighted Japan’s dependence on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, which guarantees protection from nuclear threats but means relying entirely on American defense capabilities. He stressed that it is important for Japan to reconsider its nuclear posture and maintain the three non-nuclear principles.

Shigeru Ishiba, in a live interview on TNC News, stated that acquiring nuclear weapons would offer Japan no strategic advantage. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaichi’s LDP has initiated discussions to amend three key national security documents by the end of next year, including provisions dealing with the non-nuclear principles.

The Three Non-Nuclear Principles

One of the key principles prevents nuclear weapons from entering Japanese territory. Takaichi, known for her aggressive national security stance, warned in October that this could impede U.S. nuclear-armed ships from docking at Japanese ports, potentially weakening America’s nuclear deterrence in the region.

The U.S. nuclear umbrella assures Japan that in the event of a nuclear threat, the United States will provide defense using its nuclear arsenal, while Japan itself does not possess nuclear weapons. Seiji Maehara, a lawmaker from the junior coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, said a careful review of this policy is necessary.

Opposition and International Reactions

Opposition Constitutional Democratic Party lawmaker Okada has demanded clarification on how Japan will handle U.S. nuclear-armed ships amid the ongoing revision of national security documents.

The U.S. State Department on Friday lauded Japan as a global leader in promoting nuclear non-proliferation, implicitly warning against any attempt to acquire nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, China’s state tabloid Global Times cited Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, urging Japan to respect international law and its own constitution, reconsider historical actions, and avoid using military expansion as a pretext to overstep boundaries.