36 K. HASEGAWA
parts: the fast breeder reactor. This in turn raised further doubts about
the purpose of Japan’s reprocessing program.
Potential Nuclear Deterrence
and the Risk of Nuclear Armament
The final reason Japan continues to promote nuclear power generation is that maintaining nuclear power technology, especially nuclear
fuel cycle capability, which is considered to have value as a potential
nuclear deterrent, or what is known as recessive nuclear deterrence. The
Japan-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement that was revised in 1988 gave
Japan “blanket consent” regarding spent nuclear fuel reprocessing to
any amount up to a certain limit. When this agreement expired in July
2018, both governments reached an agreement for subsequent automatic
renewals. How significant is it for Japan to have the potential to arm
itself with nuclear weapons? Japan’s nuclear cooperation agreements with
the USA, Canada, and Australia limit the use of nuclear fuel to “peaceful
purposes.” The official position adopted by Japan’s past cabinets has been
that “possession [of nuclear weapons] does not violate the Constitution
if it is limited to… a bare minimum required for self-defense.” Legal
restrictions on the possession of nuclear weapons domestically include
Article Two of the Atomic Energy Basic Law, which states that it is “…
limited to peaceful purposes,” and the so-called three non-nuclear principles adopted by the Diet in 1971 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
2014). In terms of international law, Japan is bound by nuclear cooperation agreements with the USA and other countries as well as by the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Thus, Japan is restricted from nuclear
armament by domestic and international laws.
The USA would not readily agree to Japan’s nuclear armament as it
would provoke Japan’s neighbors such as South Korea, North Korea,
and China and might lead to nuclear proliferation in the region. South
and North Korea, China, and Russia would disapprove, and Japan would
draw criticism from the rest of the world as well. Japan is also extremely
vulnerable to nuclear attack due to the high population density and
concentration in Tokyo, Osaka, and a few other cities. In other words,
it is not realistic to think that Japan could have a nuclear deterrent on its
own. Trying to develop one would be an extremely destabilizing move
that would only increase the risk of nuclear war. Nuclear deterrence is
especially unrealistic for Japan.
parts: the fast breeder reactor. This in turn raised further doubts about
the purpose of Japan’s reprocessing program.
Potential Nuclear Deterrence
and the Risk of Nuclear Armament
The final reason Japan continues to promote nuclear power generation is that maintaining nuclear power technology, especially nuclear
fuel cycle capability, which is considered to have value as a potential
nuclear deterrent, or what is known as recessive nuclear deterrence. The
Japan-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement that was revised in 1988 gave
Japan “blanket consent” regarding spent nuclear fuel reprocessing to
any amount up to a certain limit. When this agreement expired in July
2018, both governments reached an agreement for subsequent automatic
renewals. How significant is it for Japan to have the potential to arm
itself with nuclear weapons? Japan’s nuclear cooperation agreements with
the USA, Canada, and Australia limit the use of nuclear fuel to “peaceful
purposes.” The official position adopted by Japan’s past cabinets has been
that “possession [of nuclear weapons] does not violate the Constitution
if it is limited to… a bare minimum required for self-defense.” Legal
restrictions on the possession of nuclear weapons domestically include
Article Two of the Atomic Energy Basic Law, which states that it is “…
limited to peaceful purposes,” and the so-called three non-nuclear principles adopted by the Diet in 1971 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
2014). In terms of international law, Japan is bound by nuclear cooperation agreements with the USA and other countries as well as by the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Thus, Japan is restricted from nuclear
armament by domestic and international laws.
The USA would not readily agree to Japan’s nuclear armament as it
would provoke Japan’s neighbors such as South Korea, North Korea,
and China and might lead to nuclear proliferation in the region. South
and North Korea, China, and Russia would disapprove, and Japan would
draw criticism from the rest of the world as well. Japan is also extremely
vulnerable to nuclear attack due to the high population density and
concentration in Tokyo, Osaka, and a few other cities. In other words,
it is not realistic to think that Japan could have a nuclear deterrent on its
own. Trying to develop one would be an extremely destabilizing move
that would only increase the risk of nuclear war. Nuclear deterrence is
especially unrealistic for Japan.