Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is concerned that maintaining the principle of not allowing nuclear weapons into Japan could prevent US ships armed with nuclear weapons from entering ports and thus weaken the supposed nuclear deterrent in case of unforeseen circumstances, Kyodo reported.
To that end, Takaichi is considering revising Japan's long-standing principles on non-nuclear weapons, government sources said. Experts say this step will mark a serious change in security policy.
Japan, the only country to suffer atomic bombings, adheres to three principles: do not possess, do not produce, and do not allow the use of nuclear weapons. However, according to sources, the third principle weakens the effectiveness of the nuclear deterrent provided by the US ally.
In this regard, the government led by Takaichi plans to update the defense strengthening program and long-term national security strategy for the first time since 2022. Looking ahead, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans to start negotiations on this issue to prepare a corresponding proposal around spring of next year. The discussions will lay the groundwork for the government to review its safety documents by the end of 2026.
Takaichi, who became prime minister on October 21, refused to answer questions in parliament about whether the commitment to the three principles would continue in new security policy documents, saying it was not the right time to comment.
