Japan steadily follows the path of a peace-loving nation
By Hiroshige Seko
Published: November 30 2006 02:00 | Last updated: November 30 2006 02:00
From Mr Hiroshige Seko.
Sir, In his article “Taking charge: Germany and Japan strive to regain their military might” (November 16), Stephen Fidler misses some crucial points on Japan’s three non-nuclear principles as well as on constitutional revision. It is regrettable that parts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s interview in your newspaper are quoted out of context in such a manner as to give readers the false impression that he is considering revision of the constitution in order to develop a nuclear bomb.
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Mr Abe has stated publicly on many occasions, most recently at a press conference in Hanoi on November 20, that Japan will solidly adhere to the three non-nuclear principles and that there will be no debate on the nuclear option within the government of Japan, nor by official bodies within the Liberal Democratic party. Japan
is the only country to have experienced the horrors of atomic bombs, and as such has a special mission to take the lead in endeavours to eliminate nuclear weapons from the world.
Mr Abe has also stated on many occasions that Japan has built a country that upholds freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and has steadily followed the path of a peace-loving nation in the 60 years since the war, based on our deep remorse that Japan inflicted great damage on many people in Asia and the world.
Let me also point out that Mr Abe has made it clear that the basic principles in the current constitution, such as pacifism, the sovereignty of the people and basic human rights, will certainly be inherited by a new constitution.
Hiroshige Seko,
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Japan
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