Severe nuclear disarmament situation: Former Japanese PM Kishida opposes changing Three Non-Nuclear Principles
Ahead of the NPT review conference, former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated there is no need to change Japan's basic nuclear policy, the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," amidst a severe nuclear disarmament situation.
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- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 16:17
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Tokyo 26th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The routine review conference of the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" (NPT) is about to commence. Fumio Kishida became the first Japanese Prime Minister to personally attend an NPT review conference in 2022, and he recently stated that there is "no need to change" Japan's basic nuclear policy, the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles."
According to a report by "Nishinippon Shimbun," the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" (NPT) recognizes the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China as the only five nuclear-weapon states, and these five countries have an obligation to reduce nuclear armaments. At the same time, the treaty prohibits other countries from manufacturing or acquiring nuclear weapons. This treaty entered into force in 1970, and as of January 2025, a total of 191 countries and regions worldwide have joined.
To review the implementation status, ministerial-level officials from signatory states generally hold routine review conferences every five years. However, the 2015 conference saw disagreements over the denuclearization of the Middle East, and the 2022 conference was hindered by Russia's opposition to descriptions of its invasion of Ukraine in the document, preventing the adoption of a joint statement, making the final documents of the past two NPT review conferences difficult to produce.
The current review conference will open in New York, USA, on the 27th of this month. At this time, the situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly severe, and many countries are moving in directions contrary to nuclear disarmament. The government of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced that Deputy Foreign Minister Ayano Kunimitsu will attend this meeting.
"Nishinippon Shimbun" published an interview with Kishida on the 25th. When asked about the positioning of this conference, Kishida stated, "Russia is still continuing its invasion of Ukraine. Considering the situation in the Middle East and the movements of China and North Korea, the overall situation is quite severe."
He also said, "The NPT is the only universal framework that includes both nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states. For it to function, Japan needs to actively participate. Confirming that each signatory state is committed to fulfilling its nuclear disarmament pledges should be the most important goal."
The Japanese government has not yet joined the "Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons" (TPNW) as an observer, despite requests from atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha).
Kishida responded, "The key is whether it can persuade nuclear-weapon states to change their positions. Nuclear-weapon states do not participate in the TPNW, and if Japan joins as an observer but it instead makes nuclear-weapon states less active, then it loses its meaning. On the other hand, as a path toward a world without nuclear weapons, the TPNW is still important. To approach the ideal, Japan should pragmatically work step by step."
Reports indicate that after the Takaichi government started, discussions arose about revising the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," and within the ruling party, there were also opinions about nuclear sharing and possessing nuclear-powered submarines.
Regarding this, Kishida stated, "During my tenure as Prime Minister, I repeatedly insisted on the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which has been a consistent national policy, and there is no need to change it. I have also not considered nuclear sharing. As for possessing nuclear-powered submarines, it requires enormous expenses and also involves questions of necessity, so it should be carefully evaluated."
The "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" are Japan's basic nuclear policy: "not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction of" nuclear weapons. (Compiled by: Yang Wei-ching) 1150426
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(Central News Agency, Tokyo 26th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The routine review conference of the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" (NPT) is about to commence. Fumio Kishida became the first Japanese Prime Minister to personally attend an NPT review conference in 2022, and he recently stated that there is "no need to change" Japan's basic nuclear policy, the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles."
According to a report by "Nishinippon Shimbun," the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" (NPT) recognizes the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China as the only five nuclear-weapon states, and these five countries have an obligation to reduce nuclear armaments. At the same time, the treaty prohibits other countries from manufacturing or acquiring nuclear weapons. This treaty entered into force in 1970, and as of January 2025, a total of 191 countries and regions worldwide have joined.
To review the implementation status, ministerial-level officials from signatory states generally hold routine review conferences every five years. However, the 2015 conference saw disagreements over the denuclearization of the Middle East, and the 2022 conference was hindered by Russia's opposition to descriptions of its invasion of Ukraine in the document, preventing the adoption of a joint statement, making the final documents of the past two NPT review conferences difficult to produce.
The current review conference will open in New York, USA, on the 27th of this month. At this time, the situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly severe, and many countries are moving in directions contrary to nuclear disarmament. The government of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced that Deputy Foreign Minister Ayano Kunimitsu will attend this meeting.
"Nishinippon Shimbun" published an interview with Kishida on the 25th. When asked about the positioning of this conference, Kishida stated, "Russia is still continuing its invasion of Ukraine. Considering the situation in the Middle East and the movements of China and North Korea, the overall situation is quite severe."
He also said, "The NPT is the only universal framework that includes both nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states. For it to function, Japan needs to actively participate. Confirming that each signatory state is committed to fulfilling its nuclear disarmament pledges should be the most important goal."
The Japanese government has not yet joined the "Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons" (TPNW) as an observer, despite requests from atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha).
Kishida responded, "The key is whether it can persuade nuclear-weapon states to change their positions. Nuclear-weapon states do not participate in the TPNW, and if Japan joins as an observer but it instead makes nuclear-weapon states less active, then it loses its meaning. On the other hand, as a path toward a world without nuclear weapons, the TPNW is still important. To approach the ideal, Japan should pragmatically work step by step."
Reports indicate that after the Takaichi government started, discussions arose about revising the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," and within the ruling party, there were also opinions about nuclear sharing and possessing nuclear-powered submarines.
Regarding this, Kishida stated, "During my tenure as Prime Minister, I repeatedly insisted on the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which has been a consistent national policy, and there is no need to change it. I have also not considered nuclear sharing. As for possessing nuclear-powered submarines, it requires enormous expenses and also involves questions of necessity, so it should be carefully evaluated."
The "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" are Japan's basic nuclear policy: "not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction of" nuclear weapons. (Compiled by: Yang Wei-ching) 1150426
Stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.