Recently it is disclosed that Mr. Morimoto Satoshi had told in January this year, before being assigned to be Minister of Defense, to maintain the nuclear policy package, mentioning that 'a nuclear power plant constitutes not solely an energy issue, serving as a deterrent to work on the neighboring nations'.


MINISTER MORIMOTO IS STRONG ADVOCATE OF NUCLEAR ARMAMENT


The minister talked during a round-table meeting held after his lecture given in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, to the audience coming from the electric industries. The Tokyo Shimbun put an article about the comments of Minister last August 6. In January Mr. Morimoto was Professor of the graduate school of Takushoku University and he simply uttered his sincere view.


The nomination as Defense Minister by Noda Cabinet, however, must be condemned as disturbing, of a person who claims that to keep nuclear power plants means a potential nuclear armament capability and that that works as a deterrent effect on neighbors.


Those Who Advocate Nuclear Armament


Mr. Ishiba Shigeru, who confirms candidacy in the coming presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), told in August, 2011, after the Fukushima accident: 'to maintain atomic energy means that Japan may retain potential nuclear deterrence. That is, if Japan wants to produce nuclear weapons, she is able to do so in a certain period of time. In other words Japan will renounce this potential, if she gives up nuclear power plants'.


The comment of Mr. Morimoto of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and that of Mr. Ishiba, the opposite LDP, are identical though their expressions differ. Both of them advocate Japan's nuclear armament.


Lately many parliamentarians agree to have discussions on the nation's nuclear build-up, which reflects invisible consent of the idea kept deep in mind of certain politicians. The hidden idea gushed out at the time like river water in 2006 when Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a nuclear experiment.


Some experts point out, as a reason why a nuclear armament issue has emerged lately, that Japan should maintain two of the three official principles of non-nuclear doctrine, - prohibition of entry, possession and production of nuclear arms. They claim this assertion intends to manipulate public opinions that Japan is obliged to admit an entry of nukes in order to cope with nuclear threats coming from neighbors.


Those who want the nation to go nuclear take aim at the moment, without doubt, at the three non-nuclear rules that Japan has kept after the WWII, judging from a fact that she cannot immediately arm itself with nuclear arsenal. We must, however, be on the alert to shrewdness of these people to catch an optimum moment.


Nuclear Power Plant and Nuclear Weapons Constitute One Body


The scheme to regulate Japan's nuclear developments is (1) Atomic Energy Basic Law, (2) Three Non-Nuclear Principles and (3) Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which the country is to be inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).


Last June a new provision was inserted to the Atomic Energy Basic Law that the industry shall serve to national security. That reflects a position that Constitution does not prohibit the country's nuclear armament for a self-defense purpose.


Generation of electricity by nuclear power and production of nuclear weapons go through the same processes from uranium exploitation up to enrichment. Enriched uranium can be used to produce both weapons and electricity. Plutonium taken from spent nuclear fuel can be converted to a weapon. Link of atomic energy with weapons' development cannot be separated off.


Nuclear arms and atomic energy generation twine round like a rope. Politicians know well about the fact. We must not be negligent about claims and attitudes of the advocates of nuclear armament.


September 18, 2012