ID :
101867
Fri, 01/22/2010 - 22:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/101867
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Okada has proposed talks with U.S. toward `no-first-use` policy
TOKYO, Jan. 22 Kyodo -
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday he conveyed to the United
States in late December his willingness to discuss steps toward realizing in
the future the so-called ''no-first-use policy'' of nuclear weapons.
In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, Okada also said in a press conference that Japan places
''trust and importance'' on U.S. nuclear and other deterrence measures, but
would not call on Washington to take a policy that would contradict the goal of
a nuclear-free world, on which Japan hopes to work together with the United
States.
As ''two realistic steps'' toward the no-first-use policy, he cited in the
letter recommendations to limit the role of nuclear weapons solely to deterring
nuclear attacks and to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons towards non-nuclear
weapon states which are members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
''While it may not be possible to realize these immediately, I would like to
have, between the two governments, further discussion on the possibility of
adopting such measures in present or future policy,'' Okada said in the letter,
dated Dec. 24, 2009.
Okada told the press conference that Clinton and Gates responded to his letter,
but declined to comment in detail.
''It was not a reply that intends to say that there is a problem,'' he only said.
The two steps have been included in a report released in December from an
international panel on nuclear nonproliferation, co-chaired by Yoriko Kawaguchi
and Gareth Evans, former Japanese and Australian foreign ministers.
Under the no-first-use policy, nuclear powers would pledge not to use nuclear
weapons unless they or their allies come under nuclear attack.
Meanwhile, Okada said in the letter that, in the case of the United States
reducing its nuclear weapons, Japan ''continues to wish for explanation from
the U.S. side on policy regarding the extended deterrence of the United States,
including the effects on extended deterrence toward Japan and measures to
offset such effects.''
==Kyodo
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday he conveyed to the United
States in late December his willingness to discuss steps toward realizing in
the future the so-called ''no-first-use policy'' of nuclear weapons.
In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, Okada also said in a press conference that Japan places
''trust and importance'' on U.S. nuclear and other deterrence measures, but
would not call on Washington to take a policy that would contradict the goal of
a nuclear-free world, on which Japan hopes to work together with the United
States.
As ''two realistic steps'' toward the no-first-use policy, he cited in the
letter recommendations to limit the role of nuclear weapons solely to deterring
nuclear attacks and to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons towards non-nuclear
weapon states which are members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
''While it may not be possible to realize these immediately, I would like to
have, between the two governments, further discussion on the possibility of
adopting such measures in present or future policy,'' Okada said in the letter,
dated Dec. 24, 2009.
Okada told the press conference that Clinton and Gates responded to his letter,
but declined to comment in detail.
''It was not a reply that intends to say that there is a problem,'' he only said.
The two steps have been included in a report released in December from an
international panel on nuclear nonproliferation, co-chaired by Yoriko Kawaguchi
and Gareth Evans, former Japanese and Australian foreign ministers.
Under the no-first-use policy, nuclear powers would pledge not to use nuclear
weapons unless they or their allies come under nuclear attack.
Meanwhile, Okada said in the letter that, in the case of the United States
reducing its nuclear weapons, Japan ''continues to wish for explanation from
the U.S. side on policy regarding the extended deterrence of the United States,
including the effects on extended deterrence toward Japan and measures to
offset such effects.''
==Kyodo
