Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has intensified political debates by urging strict adherence to the nation's Three Non-Nuclear Principles, directly challenging Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's reported consideration of policy revisions. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader made his stance clear during a Saturday address in Kumamoto Prefecture, emphasizing Japan's responsibility to champion nuclear abolition globally.
This development follows Friday's reports from government sources indicating Takaichi might review the third principle prohibiting nuclear weapons on Japanese territory. During recent parliamentary sessions, the prime minister notably avoided confirming whether her security policies would maintain this decades-old doctrine established in 1967 by then-PM Eisaku Sato.
Analysts suggest any modification to these principles would mark Japan's most significant security policy shift since the Cold War era, potentially affecting regional stability and Tokyo's international diplomatic standing. The debate comes amid heightened global attention to nuclear disarmament efforts and evolving security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.
As Diet sessions resume this week, observers anticipate heated discussions between ruling and opposition parties, with the CDPJ vowing to prioritize this issue in legislative deliberations. The outcome could influence Japan's strategic partnerships and its role in non-proliferation treaties.
