Japan Reaffirms No-Nukes Pledge After Official’s Weapon Remark

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan’s nuclear policy had not changed, but declined to comment on ​the remarks or to say whether the person would ⁠remain in government

Japan reaffirmed its decades-old pledge never to possess nuclear weapons on Friday (December 19, 2025) after ‍local media reported that a senior security official suggested the country ​should acquire them to deter potential aggressors.

The unnamed official said ‌Japan needed nuclear weapons because of a worsening ​security environment but acknowledged that such a move would be politically difficult, public broadcaster NHK and other outlets reported, describing the official as being from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s office.

At a regular press briefing in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan’s nuclear policy had not changed, but declined to comment on ​the remarks or to say whether the person would ⁠remain in government.

There is a growing political and public willingness in Japan to loosen its three non-nuclear principles not to possess, develop or allow nuclear weapons, ​a Reuters investigation published in August ⁠found.

Source:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/japan-reaffirms-no-nukes-pledge-after-senior-official-suggests-acquiring-weapons/article70414646.ece