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Japan may allow the United States to bring nuclear weapons into the country in an emergency that threatens the safety of Japanese citizens, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida indicated Friday. Japanese Foreign Minister in a briefing to lawmakers sketched out specific exceptions under which the country's longstanding principles against the development, hosting and possession of nuclear arms could be partially set aside, Kyodo News reported.
Speaking at a session of a Diet committee, Kishida outlined certain exceptions under Japan's long-held principles of not possessing, producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has maintained the position held by the previous government, Kishida said in response to questions from Katsuya Okada, a former foreign minister and senior lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
Okada in 2010 led a probe by the DPJ-led government, disclosing Japan and the United States signed secret pacts during the Cold War era, including an agreement under which Tokyo would allow U.S. nuclear-armed vessels to make port calls in Japan.
Kishida told the House of Representatives' Budget Committee that he adhered to an earlier account made by Okada that whether the government would "adamantly observe the (non-nuclear) principles despite threats to people's safety depends on the decision of the administration in power."
"The future cannot be determined in advance," Kishida also cited Okada as saying previously, suggesting the United States could bring nuclear weapons into Japan in emergencies.
In a relevant move, Abe admitted last month it was a "mistake" that the previous governments under his Liberal Democratic Party had continued to deny the existence of the Japan-U.S. secret pacts, which had been declassified in the United States.
http://bit.ly/1lRgGDJ
Speaking at a session of a Diet committee, Kishida outlined certain exceptions under Japan's long-held principles of not possessing, producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has maintained the position held by the previous government, Kishida said in response to questions from Katsuya Okada, a former foreign minister and senior lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
Okada in 2010 led a probe by the DPJ-led government, disclosing Japan and the United States signed secret pacts during the Cold War era, including an agreement under which Tokyo would allow U.S. nuclear-armed vessels to make port calls in Japan.
Kishida told the House of Representatives' Budget Committee that he adhered to an earlier account made by Okada that whether the government would "adamantly observe the (non-nuclear) principles despite threats to people's safety depends on the decision of the administration in power."
"The future cannot be determined in advance," Kishida also cited Okada as saying previously, suggesting the United States could bring nuclear weapons into Japan in emergencies.
In a relevant move, Abe admitted last month it was a "mistake" that the previous governments under his Liberal Democratic Party had continued to deny the existence of the Japan-U.S. secret pacts, which had been declassified in the United States.
http://bit.ly/1lRgGDJ