Japan PM hopeful Kono urges US guarantees to curb nuclear ambitions – Reuters

By Tim Kelly and Yukiko Toyoda

TOKYO (Reuters) – Taro Kono, a candidate for Japan’s prime minister, has urged Tokyo to seek stronger assurances from Washington regarding its commitment to Japan’s nuclear defense. This comes in response to rising domestic concerns that could lead to increased calls for Japan to develop an independent nuclear arsenal.

Kono, who is responsible for Japan’s digital transformation and has served as foreign and defense minister, made these remarks in light of uncertainties surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election, which will see Vice President Kamala Harris running against former President Donald Trump.

“If the U.S. government becomes unstable, some people in Japan might suggest that Japan develop an independent nuclear deterrent,” Kono stated in a recent interview. He cautioned that abandoning Japan’s longstanding stance on nuclear disarmament could prompt similar responses from countries like South Korea.

Japan, the only nation to have experienced atomic bombings, has long renounced nuclear weapons, relying instead on the United States to deter potential threats from nuclear-armed nations such as China, North Korea, and Russia.

Previously, Trump has expressed doubts about the reliability of U.S. commitments, even suggesting that Japan should financially contribute to its own defense, including acquiring nuclear capabilities.

Japan’s significant stockpile of plutonium and its advanced technological capabilities—particularly in rocket development for its space program—means it has the foundational components necessary for nuclear missile development. However, Kono argues that pursuing such a path would undermine national security, primarily due to the proliferation risks and potential loss of access to nuclear fuel needed for Japan’s power generation, especially during a period of strained energy supplies.

Kono is among approximately ten members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who are either running or considering running in the leadership election scheduled for September 27 to succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The election takes place amid challenges of rising consumer prices, a depreciating yen, and lackluster economic growth.

He proposed reforms aimed at improving labor markets to increase wages for part-time workers, as well as initiatives to retrain workers for higher-paying jobs and utilize data-driven technology to enhance productivity.

Kono also emphasized that a stronger yen would positively impact Japan’s economy, noting that the currency’s recent decline to 142 against the dollar marks a significant drop from 114 at the start of Kishida’s term in 2021. “The Japanese economy will be better off with a stronger yen than before,” he remarked, advocating for stability in the exchange rate.