Defense minister gets in trouble

Defense minister triggers uproar with comments on nuclear weapons under security legislation

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201508060062

August 06, 2015

By SACHIKO MIWA/ Staff Writer

Japan's Self-Defense Forces can theoretically provide nuclear weapons for other countries under security legislation now before the Diet, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Aug. 5.

However, he added, “As our country does not possess nuclear weapons, we cannot provide them. It could never happen.”

The minister explained that nuclear weapons are classified as "danyaku" (ammunition). He was attending an Upper House special committee on the security legislation and made the comments after being asked whether the SDF can offer nuclear weapons to the armed forces of other countries.

Among several bills that constitute the security legislation package, the “serious influence situations bill” and the “international peace support bill” state that the SDF cannot provide “buki” (arms) but can offer danyaku.

Nakatani was also asked whether the security legislation imposes any limits on goods that can be transported by the SDF as rear-echelon support activities.

One questioner asked whether it was possible for the SDF to transport nuclear weapons, chemical weapons and poison gas, to which Nakatani replied, “Legally, (the possibility) is not ruled out (under the security legislation).”

With regard to refueling, which also falls under rear-echelon support activities, Nakatani said, “Legally, there are no stipulations to rule out the possibility (of the SDF refueling fighter jets loaded with nuclear weapons or nuclear-powered submarines). It is possible to refuel them if the places of the refueling are in areas where armed combat is not raging.”

Nakatani went on to state: “Our country has the ‘three nonnuclear principles’ (of not possessing or producing nuclear weapons or introducing them into Japan). So with nuclear (weapons), we have no options of ever having to transport them or refuel fighter jets (armed with nuclear weapons) or submarines (operated with nuclear power).”

Even though Nakatani was at pains to defuse an uproar by stating Japan's firm policy, the secretary-general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan blasted his remarks.

Yukio Edano pointed out that a new administration could easily take a different view.

In short, Edano said Nakatani’s explanations did not serve as a brake.

“Even if the Abe administration says, ‘Our country has the three nonnuclear principles,’ it does not have persuasive power," Edano said. "What is questioned is what the SDF will become able to do under the security legislation.”