Japan Tries to Confront Reality
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TOKYO (Kyodo)--Japan on Wednesday reiterated its view that the use of
atomic bombs is against humanitarian principles, while stopping short of
lodging a protest against remarks by the U.S. special envoy for nuclear
nonproliferation.
"I have not heard directly what Mr. (Robert) Joseph said exactly, so I
don't think we're considering lodging a protest right now," Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said in a regular news conference.
"However, I'd like to find out through the Foreign Ministry what kind of
remark it was."
Joseph said in a news briefing in Washington on Tuesday, "I think most
historians would agree that the use of an atomic bomb brought to a close
a war that would have cost millions of more lives, not just hundreds of
thousands of Allied lives but literally millions of Japanese lives."
His remarks in response to a reporter's question came shortly after
Japan's defense minister resigned Wednesday following an outcry over his
own recent comments that were taken as implying that the U.S. atomic
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified as "something that
couldn't be helped."
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the evening declined to comment on Joseph's
remarks as he has not been briefed, but said, "The atomic bombings of
Nagasaki and Hiroshima took many lives and a lot of A-bomb survivors
continue to suffer from the aftereffects after the war. Use of the
atomic bomb is unforgivable and I still feel that way."
Shiozaki said, "The Japanese government believes that as the world's
only country to have suffered from atomic bombing, it is our duty to
ensure that our strong desire that the tragedy not be repeated is conveyed."
"The Japanese government's stance is that the use of atomic bombs is not
consistent with the humanitarian principle that is the ideological
foundation of international law," the spokesman said. "We must continue
to work realistically and steadily on nuclear disarmament toward a
peaceful and safe world without nuclear arms."
Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, who was visiting the premier's office,
told reporters, "I expect senior U.S. officials to understand the misery
that Hiroshima and Nagasaki have faced."
In a separate news conference, Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Mitsuo
Sakaba said, "Regarding Envoy Joseph's remarks, I think it was rather
regrettable that there was no mention of how tragic the atomic bombings
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were."
Meanwhile, Shiozaki stressed that the Japan-U.S. security alliance
remains important to both nations and that despite differences in
opinion on some issues the allies share the goal of achieving peace and
stability in the region.
Abe dodged reporters' questions on whether he believes U.S. President
George W. Bush should visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
"Of course we have to understand the feelings of the atomic-bomb
survivors. At the same time, however, it is important to secure Japan's
safety through a firm Japan-U.S. alliance," Abe said. "We must proceed
with diplomacy from a comprehensive viewpoint."
Japan upholds the principles of not producing, possessing or allowing
nuclear weapons into its territory, but is protected by Washington's
nuclear umbrella under the alliance.