China Monday said that a Japanese senior official's remarks that
Japan's non-nuclear principles could be amended violate the
country's commitment against nukes.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said such remarks
would not only be extensively opposed by the Japanese people but
also arouse great concern among its neighbors in Asia and among all
peace-loving people in the world.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's right-hand man Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda admitted Monday he told reporters on
Friday that Tokyo might one day abandon its decades-old non-nuclear
policy.
"I
made the remark with hopes that young journalists would start
seriously thinking about the future," he told a press
conference.
"The principles are just like the constitution. But in the face of
calls to amend the constitution, the amendment of the principles is
also likely," he said, according to the Kyodo News
agency.
"Japan does not have offensive arms (such as long-range missiles
and atomic bombs) as it restricts its military activity to
self-defence," Fukuda said.
He
added, however, that Japan's defence-only policy does not mean
Japan cannot possess such weapons.
Japan has so far adhered to its three non-nuclear principles, which
include neither possessing, manufacturing nor allowing nuclear
weapons on Japanese territory.
Kong yesterday said that peace and development have become the
current trend and international efforts promote nuclear
disarmament, pointing out that it is surprising for Japan to
release such comments, which run against present international
sentiments.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Monday tried to calm the
furor over the reported comments.
He
reiterated that Japan will adhere to its three "no nuclear weapons"
principles, Kyodo News reported.
"What has given rise to this controversy? I have said I have no
plans to revise the principles," the premier told reporters at his
office.
Nuclear weapons are the most sensitive issue in Japan. Japanese
people are strongly against them. Since the nuclear accident in
Ibaraki Prefecture in 1999, the country's most serious nuclear
leakage accident, Japanese citizens have lost confidence in the
nuclear industry and have asked the government to reduce or stop
nuclear power plant construction.
(China
Daily June 4, 2002)