The Chinese Foreign Ministry has released a formal working paper expressing deep concern over recent discussions in Japan regarding the pursuit of nuclear weapons. The document, issued on Thursday, urges Japan to strictly abide by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and its own historical Three Non-Nuclear Principles.
The paper notes that in recent years, Japanese officials have repeatedly engaged in public discourse about revising the long-standing principles forbidding the possession, production, and introduction of nuclear weapons onto Japanese territory. This rhetoric, coupled with a sustained increase in military spending and revisions to national security strategies, has raised significant international alarm.
The working paper explicitly calls on Japan to learn from history, completely sever ties with neo-militarism, and adhere to its pacifist Constitution. It warns that allowing right-wing forces to push for the development of powerful offensive weapons, including nuclear arms, would inevitably harm the international community and severely impact global peace and stability.
Furthermore, the document urges other nations to carefully consider Japan's motivations and exercise caution in any nuclear cooperation. It also calls on the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen the scope, intensity, and frequency of its safeguards and verification activities in Japan to ensure the timely detection of any non-peaceful nuclear activities.
This formal diplomatic move underscores the critical importance of maintaining a robust international nuclear non-proliferation regime in Asia and highlights the delicate security dynamics currently at play in the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
