China urges Japan to strictly abide by its "three non-nuclear
principles" and to adopt a responsible attitude in safeguarding
regional peace and stability, the spokesman's office of the Foreign
Ministry said yesterday.
According to Kyodo News Agency, Japan's new government said on
Tuesday it is "legally permitted" to possess nuclear arms as long
as they remain at a "necessary minimum" level for self-defense.
China hopes Japan, as a signatory of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), will seriously carry out its
obligations, according to the office.
"We hope the Japanese side will stick to its 'three non-nuclear
principles' and adopt a responsible attitude in safeguarding
regional peace and stability," said a source with the office.
Following the nuclear test by North Korea on October 9, Syoichi
Nakagawa, chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP), and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso have
aroused controversy and criticism by calling for debate about
whether Japan should possess nuclear weaponry.
The "three non-nuclear principles," which state that Japan would
not produce, possess or allow the entry into its territory of
nuclear weapons, were approved by Japan's parliament in November
1971.
(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2006)
