.Japanese editorial excerpts+
(Kyodo) _ Selected editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:
REMOVE TABOO FROM DEBATES OVER JAPAN'S NATIONAL SECURITY (The Daily Yomiuri as translated from the Yomiuri Shimbun)
Will Japan have to coexist with a rogue state with nuclear weapons? How should the country respond to drastic changes in the security environment? Japan enters the new year with these problems unresolved.
The international community has been misled by North Korea for a long time. After agreeing to scrap its nuclear program in 1994, North Korea secretly developed its nuclear program while receiving energy assistance from the rest of the world.
The six-party talks over the past 3-1/2 years consequently served only as a tool for North Korea to buy time so that it could carry out a nuclear test. No significant advancement was seen in the resumed round of talks at the end of last year. Can we force North Korea to abandon its nuclear program in future? This is highly unlikely.
We are afraid that North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons will become a fait accompli if the current situation drags on. What should Japan do then?
It would not be difficult for Japan to become a nuclear power if the nation is committed enough to follow such a path. However, it is not realistic for Japan to choose to go nuclear in the current international environment. If the option of going nuclear is not a choice, we have to depend on the nuclear umbrella of the United States as a realistic option.
The problem then is whether the nuclear umbrella is really functional. To make it work, constant efforts are required to ensure that the Japan-U.S. alliance relationship continues to be trustworthy.
To beef up the alliance's efficacy and capability to respond to crises, Japan should exercise its right of collective self-defense so the country can sufficiently fulfill its responsibilities.
This would not be difficult as the government only has to change the current interpretation of the Constitution on the matter. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must make an important decision now.
However, the most urgent task for the government now is to try to work toward North Korea's dismantling of its nuclear weapons program.
China can wield a strong influence over North Korea. In this regard, Tokyo has to maintain close communication with Beijing.
At the same time, Japan itself has to strengthen its comprehensive deterrent power, though within the framework of conventional weapons.
Of the nation's three nonnuclear principles of "not producing, possessing or introducing nuclear weapons into Japan," the revision of the third principle could be the subject of discussion.
It is highly unrealistic that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, but discussions on whether Japan should be allowed to do so should not be considered taboo. (Jan. 1)
BreitBart
Look on the bright side, the future looks brighter than ever.
REMOVE TABOO FROM DEBATES OVER JAPAN'S NATIONAL SECURITY (The Daily Yomiuri as translated from the Yomiuri Shimbun)
Will Japan have to coexist with a rogue state with nuclear weapons? How should the country respond to drastic changes in the security environment? Japan enters the new year with these problems unresolved.
The international community has been misled by North Korea for a long time. After agreeing to scrap its nuclear program in 1994, North Korea secretly developed its nuclear program while receiving energy assistance from the rest of the world.
The six-party talks over the past 3-1/2 years consequently served only as a tool for North Korea to buy time so that it could carry out a nuclear test. No significant advancement was seen in the resumed round of talks at the end of last year. Can we force North Korea to abandon its nuclear program in future? This is highly unlikely.
We are afraid that North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons will become a fait accompli if the current situation drags on. What should Japan do then?
It would not be difficult for Japan to become a nuclear power if the nation is committed enough to follow such a path. However, it is not realistic for Japan to choose to go nuclear in the current international environment. If the option of going nuclear is not a choice, we have to depend on the nuclear umbrella of the United States as a realistic option.
The problem then is whether the nuclear umbrella is really functional. To make it work, constant efforts are required to ensure that the Japan-U.S. alliance relationship continues to be trustworthy.
To beef up the alliance's efficacy and capability to respond to crises, Japan should exercise its right of collective self-defense so the country can sufficiently fulfill its responsibilities.
This would not be difficult as the government only has to change the current interpretation of the Constitution on the matter. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must make an important decision now.
However, the most urgent task for the government now is to try to work toward North Korea's dismantling of its nuclear weapons program.
China can wield a strong influence over North Korea. In this regard, Tokyo has to maintain close communication with Beijing.
At the same time, Japan itself has to strengthen its comprehensive deterrent power, though within the framework of conventional weapons.
Of the nation's three nonnuclear principles of "not producing, possessing or introducing nuclear weapons into Japan," the revision of the third principle could be the subject of discussion.
It is highly unrealistic that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, but discussions on whether Japan should be allowed to do so should not be considered taboo. (Jan. 1)
BreitBart
Look on the bright side, the future looks brighter than ever.
posted by madtom at 1:25 AM
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