Japan Could Make Nuclear Weapon, FM Says

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso today asserted his country’s technological capability to create a nuclear weapon, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Nov. 8).

“Japan is capable of producing nuclear weapons,” he told lawmakers.  “But we are not saying we have plans to possess nuclear weapons.”

Aso has controversially called for public debate on Japan’s policy against development or possession of nuclear weapons.

He argued before a parliamentary committee that the country’s pacifist constitution does not bar possession of nuclear weapons for the purpose of defense.

“Possession of minimum levels of arms for defense is not prohibited under Article 9 of the constitution,” which prohibits use of force to resolve international conflicts.  “Even nuclear weapons, if there are any that fall within that limit, they are not prohibited” (Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Nov. 30).

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