【声明】核兵器禁止条約第2回締約国会議へ向けて

 

　ところが、被爆国日本政府は、一貫して核兵器禁止条約への参加を拒否し、第1回に続き、第2回締約国会議へのオブザーバー参加さえ拒否する、恥ずべき態度をとり続けています。それだけではありません。日米軍事同盟の下で、アメリカの「核抑止力」の強化を求め、アメリカと共に他国を攻撃する「敵地攻撃能力」保有の大軍拡をおしすすめています。

　6月28日に開かれた日米拡大抑止協議では、「米国の戦略アセット（核兵器）の可視性を増大させる」ことを確認し、Ｂ52米戦略爆撃機などと自衛隊戦闘機の共同訓練などが繰り返し行われています。これは、北朝鮮や中国に対する核兵器による威嚇に日本が加担していることであり、核兵器による威嚇への「援助・奨励・勧誘」を禁じた禁止条約第1条に反する行為です。5年間で43兆円、世界第3位の規模となる大軍拡も、日本国憲法9条で保有を禁じてきた攻撃的兵器を保有し、米軍と一体に他国を先制攻撃できる体制をつくるものです。これがいま、東アジアの核軍拡と軍事的緊張を高める有害な役割を果たしています。

　私たちはこの岸田政権の米核抑止力強化、大軍拡路線に反対し、「戦争放棄」の憲法9条を守り抜き、日本政府を核兵器禁止条約に参加する政府に変えることが、私たち日本国民の責務と考え、そのために全力をあげる決意です。核兵器のない平和で公正な世界の実現のため、共に頑張りましょう。

 

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Statement on the Occasion of the 2nd Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons:

We Urge the Government of Japan, the A-Bombed Country, to Join the TPNW and Denounce Its Increased Reliance on U.S. Nuclear Deterrence and the Policy of Massive Military Buildup

Novemver 26, 2023
CHISAKA Jun, Secretary General, Japan Peace Committee


Founded in 1949, we, Japan Peace Committee, are a citizens’ organization that has consistently called for the prohibition and abolition of nuclear weapons, the establishment of order of peace based on the U.N. Charter and the defiance of Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution, which pledges “renunciation of war”. This is based on our reflection on Japan's war of aggression and our determination to prevent the tragedy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from ever happening again.

Defend the U.N. Charter!  Expand the joint effort for the prohibition and abolition of nuclear weapons to the world!
　
We are firmly opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter, and call for Russia's unconditional withdrawal from the region. Israel's genocide and indiscriminate attacks on Gaza, Palestine are contrary to international humanitarian law, and we call for their cessation and an immediate ceasefire. We must raise our voices against aggression and occupation around the world and demand that the U.N. Charter be upheld.

At the same time, we severely criticize Russia's repeated threats to use nuclear weapons, as well as a statement made by an Israeli cabinet member referring to the possibility of using nuclear weapons. This is a violation of Article 1 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which prohibits the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and is a grave challenge to humanity. This situation reiterates "the need to completely eliminate such weapons, which remains the only way to guarantee that nuclear weapons are never used again under any circumstances" (Preamble to the TPNW).

We refuse to accept that other nuclear powers continue to cling to nuclear weapons and try to build up their arsenals. The G7 summit held in Hiroshima this past May openly advocated "nuclear deterrence," which was a mockery of the Hibakusha and the A-bombed city.

Under such circumstances, we believe that the governments and citizens of all countries that are parties to and support the TPNW must work together with the Hibakusha to highlight the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, expand the circle of participation in the treaty, and strengthen the movement to demand that all nuclear weapon states and nuclear-weapon dependent states accede to the treaty.

We oppose Japan’s pro-nuclear policy and massive military buildup

However, the government of the A-bombed state of Japan has consistently refused to join the TPNW, and has even refused to participate as an observer in the Second Meeting of States Parties, following the first meeting, a shameful attitude. Moreover, under the Japan-U.S. military alliance, Japan is seeking to strengthen the U.S. "nuclear deterrence" and is pressing ahead with a massive military buildup to acquire "enemy-base attack capability" to join the U.S. to strike other countries.

At the Japan-U.S. Extended Deterrence Dialogue held on June 28, it was confirmed that Japan would "increase the visibility of U.S. strategic assets (nuclear weapons)," and joint exercises between B-52 U.S. strategic bombers and Japan's Self-Defense Force fighter jets have been held repeatedly. This is Japan's complicity in nuclear threats against North Korea and China, an act in violation of Article 1 of the TPNW, which prohibits to "assist, encourage or induce" nuclear threats. Massive military expansion of 43 trillion yen over five years, the third largest in the world, is also a violation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which prohibits the possession of offensive weapons, and will also create a system capable of preemptively attacking other countries jointly with the U.S. military. Japan is thus playing a detrimental role in increasing nuclear arms buildup and military tensions in East Asia.

We oppose the Kishida administration's policy of strengthening the U.S. nuclear deterrence and expanding Japan's military. It is our duty as Japanese citizens to uphold the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution, and to change the Japanese government to one that will join the TPNW. Let us work together to achieve a peaceful and just world without nuclear weapons.