The Study Of Japan’s Non-nuclear Policy

After the end of the Cold War, especially after entering the new century, the United States and Russia has been continuing to promote nuclear disarmament, which seems that it will be less likely to trigger off an international nuclear war. However, the international community is still not so peace, as the proliferation of mass destruction weapons, such as nuclear weapons, is still remains a threat to the globe security constantly. In East Asia, the nuclear tests, the construction of light water reactors and the satellite launch done by North Korea have made remarkable progress, which further aggravates the perception about the threat that Japan feels about its neighboring country. Confronting with the complex international and regional situations, Japan become more and more worried about the effectiveness of the extended nuclear deterrent provided by the U.S., as the Obama administration is working hard to purse the nuclear-free world dream and to promote the high-profile nuclear disarmament. And in Japan, the Abe administration says that the security situation around Japan is so terrible that Japan should rewrite the pacifist constitution, and relax the "Three principles of arms exports". It cannot be denied that the Japan’s political conservative tendency is increasingly obvious.In the contexts of the great changes among international, regional, and domestic environments described above, the comments concerning nuclear arming are rampant among and abroad Japan. Many analysts think that Japan has already possessed sophisticated nuclear technology, abundant nuclear materials, as well as advanced space launch vehicles technology, it is not so difficult for Japan to have nuclear arms technically; and it is easy to break the previous policy on the way to become ordinary country; moreover, the Japan’s nuclear policy is self-contradictory because of the practicability feature of Japanese culture, and likely to have some suddenly fundamental changes. As a result, people are terribly questioning and worrying whether Japan will continue its long-term non-nuclear policy. However, most of these comments have intense nationalism characteristics that published by some politicians, while personal opinions cannot be viewed as national policy, just like the nuclear technology doesn’t mean the motivation for possessing nuclear weapons. There are not a few influencing factors on the insisting on non-nuclear policy and the development of Japan’s nuclear weapons currently.Firstly, in the matter of influencing factors which promote Japan to insist on the non-nuclear policy, Japan participates in the international nuclear non-proliferation actively, in order to improve its soft power, and this could be seen in the numbers of bills brought by Japan in United Nations general assembly and the first committee, and the approval voting of this kind of bills, as well as the actions among other international disarmaments and non-proliferation occasions. Meanwhile, Japan has acquired lots of down-to-earth benefits from the existing regimes, for instance, Japan is allowed to do nuclear fuel cycling and processing, and Japanese nationals is elected as the leaders of some related international institutes, and so on. And Japan can’t afford the possible consequences produced by its breaking through the regimes, such as international isolation and sanctions, the erosion even collapse of the Japan-US alliance, as well as being confiscated of the related privilege. These influencing factors prompt Japan to go on with its non-nuclear policy.Secondly, in the matter of influencing factors which restrict Japan to develop nuclear weapons, there are mainly three major affecting factors. The first constraint comes from the United States, and it is particularly evident. By promising and improving the credibility of the "nuclear umbrella", influencing the provision and restriction of nuclear materials, and so on, the United States restricting the Japanese government’s attitude on the nuclear weapons. The second constraint is the nuclear allergic in Japan’s society, which contributes directly to the public opinion basis that against nuclear weapons; At the same time, it also affects the Japanese attitude towards the three non-nuclear principles, namely, supporting the principles. All of these have restricted the Japanese government’s attitudes toward nuclear weapons. Moreover, the Yoshida Doctrine has always been prevailing since the early postwar period, which restrains the military overdevelopment, restrict the political development tendency. And the export-oriented economy has been promoting the peaceful diplomacy. As a result, the possibility of governments’ possessing nuclear weapons has been restricted greatly. In addition, Japan’s geopolitics also plays a part in the strength of constrains.Japan insisting on non-nuclear policy and not developing nuclear weapons has been making some greater influences. That is, it safeguards and strengthens the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, it also pins the great change of the United States’nuclear strategy, and what’s more, it makes a positive demonstration effect for the construction of Northeast Asia-Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. Meanwhile, it enlightens China to supervise and urge Japan’s policies on nuclear weapons, as well as affirm and encourage Japan’s movement of insisting on non-nuclear policy, and push forward the early achievement of "the thoughts of Northeast Asia-Nuclear Weapons Free Zone ".Although Japan’s non-nuclear policy is challenged by many aspects, as long as Japan still wants to improve its soft power by attending the international non-proliferation actively and enjoy the regime’s benefits, and can’t afford the possible consequences produced by its breaking through the regimes; the U.S. continues to restrict its intention and ability; the nuclear allergy greatly influences the Japanese nationals’attitude towards nuclear weapons and the three non-nuclear principles, then binds the government’s related policies; it is necessary for Japan to continue to implement the updated Yoshida Doctrine, therefore pay attention to the economy rejuvenation, prevention of military overdevelopment and political extremes, and carry the peaceful diplomacy forward, then, in the foreseeable future, Japan’s non-nuclear policy will go on.