Japanese Opposition Parties Seek Aso’s Ouster

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso’s continued calls for debate on the country’s prohibition against nuclear weapons have led opposition parties to push for his resignation, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, Nov. 6).

“The four opposition parties agreed we will demand the foreign minister’s resignation for recommending discussion on having nuclear weapons,” said Hirotaka Otaki of the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan.

“We can’t help but suspecting that Aso is talking on behalf of [new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe], who cannot admit has real beliefs that Japan should become a nuclear power,” he added.

Abe has maintained his support of Japan’s principles against production or possession of nuclear weapons, AFP reported.  “No one in my Cabinet is against the non-nuclear principles,” he told lawmakers.

Abe must exert greater control over aides who have publicly sought a nuclear debate, said opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa.

“As the only nation which suffered attacks by atomic bombs, the Japanese government should deal with this problem carefully,” he said (Agence France-Presse/SpaceWar.com, Nov. 8).

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