Senior Official at Prime Minister's Office Suggests Japan Should Possess Nuclear Weapons
Reports emerged on the 19th from multiple media outlets that a senior official at the Prime Minister's Office made an off-the-record comment suggesting "Japan should also possess nuclear weapons," causing significant ripples in the political world. In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara emphasized at a morning press conference on the same day that the government "firmly adheres to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles as its policy" and sought to calm the situation. According to reports, the remark was made by a senior official at the Prime Minister's Office responsible for national security, with some speculating it was a former high-ranking official of the Air Self-Defense Force. While there have been questions raised about the media's conduct in making an off-the-record comment public, the content of the statement itself drew sharp criticism from both ruling and opposition parties, as it could potentially shake the very foundation of Japan's secur...