information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
29 Juin 2013
June 29, 2013
Komeito urges caution for nuclear tech exports
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130628_40.html
The leader of Japan's junior coalition partner is expressing caution about exporting nuclear power plant technology.
New Komeito chief Natsuo Yamaguchi told NHK on Friday that the government can decide whether to export the technology if other countries need Japan's expertise and strict safety standards.
But he said the public will not approve of the government taking the initiative in sales promotions.
He also said many people are still unable to return to their homes since evacuating after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011.
Yamaguchi says exporting nuclear technology requires thorough and careful consideration.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is eager to promote exports of civilian nuclear technology.
He and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed last month to speed up negotiations on a nuclear cooperation pact that will enable Japan to transfer its technology to India.
Japan has also signed similar deals with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
June 28, 2013
Staff Writer
New Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, pledged Thursday to push for a nuclear phaseout at the earliest possible date and bolster the Constitution by adding more provisions, a sharp contrast to the LDP’s desire to promote atomic power and rewrite the national charter.
But New Komeito officials said the party aims to maintain policy consistency with the LDP while sticking to its core stands, including opposition to revising the war-renouncing Article 9, only to be vague on aspects of nuclear energy and constitutional revision.
Thursday’s policies are New Komeito’s campaign pledges for the upcoming Upper House election. The party already hammered out the first set of key policies earlier this month.
On atomic power, New Komeito retained its stance from December’s Lower House campaign, saying it will strive to achieve a nuclear-free society as soon as possible, including not allowing new nuclear plants to be built.
Asked about the discrepancy with LDP policy, the party stressed that it is in line with the coalition agreement that the government will gradually decrease reliance on nuclear power by capitalizing on renewable energy.
Yet the LDP’s platform says the party will scrap the target set by the Democratic Party of Japan, which was in power when the Fukushima meltdown catastrophe started, to phase out all nuclear power by the 2030s. The LDP also pledged to push for the export of nuclear power technology and other infrastructure.
Asked about this gap within the coalition, New Komeito policy chief Keiichi Ishii dodged the question, saying the government is in charge of diplomacy to export atomic power. Ishii also emphasized that New Komeito has not taken a stance on nuclear exports, even though he said earlier this month that exporting nuclear technology could be one way for Japan to make an international contribution.
On the Constitution, New Komeito said it will push to add more provisions, including environmental rights and a clause to achieve decentralization. Yet the party remained vague about Article 96, saying revising this provision should be discussed only within the context of overall reform.
The LDP plan to rewrite the Constitution starts with weakening Article 96, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both Diet chambers to revise the charter before putting proposed changes before voters.
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