Japan's Government Rejects Participation in UN Anti-Nuclear Weapons Meeting

Japan’s Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya, stated on February 18 that the country would not take part as an observer at the upcoming UN meeting on nuclear weapons prohibition. Citing the nation’s current security challenges as the most severe since World War II, Iwaya emphasized that nuclear deterrence is essential for Japan, arguing that attending the meeting under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons could send misleading signals about Japan’s nuclear strategy.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had considered sending some ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers to the third Meeting of States Parties to the treaty instead of participating as an observer. However, the party’s decision not to participate left junior coalition partner Komeito frustrated, as it intends to maintain its tradition of attending these gatherings for the past two sessions.

Iwaya further explained that nuclear disarmament should be pursued within the framework of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which, he said, is better aligned with the interests of countries already possessing nuclear capabilities. He expressed concern that participation in the meeting would blur the clear division between nations endorsing nuclear deterrence and those opposed to it, potentially compromising widespread support for the NPT's disarmament efforts.

Criticism came swiftly from survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, with groups such as the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations rejecting the minister’s stance. They argued that progress on nuclear disarmament has been lacking under the existing NPT framework and suggested that Japan should instead sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to bridge the gap between nuclear and non-nuclear states.

Local voices, including Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki and Mayor Kazumi Matsui, also expressed opposition to the government's position and urged a move toward adhering to the treaty. Additionally, youth activists have organized visits to the United States to engage with nuclear test victims from regions such as the Marshall Islands and Kazakhstan, emphasizing a global dialogue on abolishing nuclear weapons.