On November 15, ex-Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), vowed to challenge Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Diet over potential revisions to Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles. This announcement follows reports that Takaichi is considering reviewing the third principle, which bars nuclear weapons from Japanese territory.
At a recent Lower House Budget Committee hearing, Prime Minister Takaichi stopped short of clarifying whether her defense and security strategy will continue to honor the long-standing non-nuclear ban. In response, Noda said the CDPJ will use upcoming Diet sessions to press for a firm commitment and argued that Japan should "take the lead in spreading the idea of nuclear abolition to the world."
First declared by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in the Diet in 1967, the Three Non-Nuclear Principles (no possession, no production, and no introduction of nuclear weapons) have shaped Japan's post-war pacifist identity. The possibility of altering the third principle represents a significant shift in national security policy, likely to spark both domestic debate and international scrutiny.
Supporters of the non-nuclear stance argue it remains vital to Japan's soft-power appeal and global leadership on disarmament. Critics of change warn that weakening the ban could undermine public trust and complicate alliances, especially under the US nuclear umbrella. With regional tensions rising, including the DPRK's missile tests and shifts in the Taiwan Strait's security landscape, Japan's non-nuclear debate is set to be a defining issue of the 2025 legislative session.
As Diet sessions get underway next week, all eyes will be on Takaichi's responses under questioning by Noda and other opposition figures. The outcome could reshape Japan's defense posture and influence global efforts toward nuclear abolition.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
