Tokyo Leader Calls For Japanese Nuclear Deterrent

http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20110308_5837.php

Tokyo Leader Calls For Japanese Nuclear Deterrent
Tuesday, March 8, 2011

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Japan's No. 2 most powerful elected official called for his nation to develop a nuclear arsenal to respond to the evolving military situations in China, Russia and North Korea, the London Independent reported on Tuesday (see GSN, Dec. 2, 2010).

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara told the British newspaper that his country had the capacity to build a nuclear weapon in a year or less time.

&quoteople talk about the cost and other things but the fact is that diplomatic bargaining power means nuclear weapons. All the (permanent) members of the (United Nations) Security Council have them," he said.

"All our enemies: China, North Korea and Russia -- all close neighbors -- have nuclear weapons. Is there another country in the world in a similar situation?" Ishihara asked.

China is rapidly growing its military forces. In the last year, a longstanding feud flared up over the Senkaku Islands when a Chinese fishing vessel crashed into a Japanese coast guard ship not far from the Japanese-controlled islands over which Beijing claims dominion (see GSN, March 7).

"China wouldn't have dared lay a hand on the Senkakus (if Japan had nuclear weapons)," Ishihara said of the maritime incident.

Japan diplomatically crossed swords with Moscow last month over four islands that Russia has occupied since World War II, though Tokyo also claims them. Russia has announced plans to deploy antimissile systems and other weapons to the islands in light of the dispute (see GSN, Feb. 17).

A nuclear arsenal would give Moscow greater pause in its dealings with Tokyo over the disputed islands, the conservative governor said.

North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development has long been viewed as a serious threat by Japan (see GSN, March 8).

Tokyo publicly abides by three voluntary non-nuclear principles that bar the country from ever developing or holding nuclear weapons, or allowing their movement across its territory. Japan is the only nation to ever be attacked with nuclear bombs and has been one of the most vocal international voices calling for worldwide nuclear disarmament.

Ishihara urged his country to throw out domestic limitations on the development and exportation of weaponry.

"We should develop sophisticated weapons and sell them abroad. Japan made the best tanks in the world before America crushed the industry. We could get that back," he said.

The governor asserted that onetime Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, who received international praise for his introduction of the three nonnuclear principles in the 1960s, behind closed doors sought U.S. assistance in acquiring a nuclear weapon (see GSN, June 18, 2010).

"If the Sato administration had unilaterally developed weapons then, for a start North Korea wouldn't have taken so many of our citizens," Ishihara said in reference to the infamous kidnappings by the North (David McNeill, London Independent, March 8).

Yes, Sir,

The  日本人 call China an "Enemy".

This is what reported March 8, 2011 "The  日本人 call China an "Enemy". "