Comments on: Amano’s election as IAEA Director General deepens Japan’s nuclear paradox http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/07/04/amanos-election-as-iaea-director-general-deepens-japans-nuclear-paradox/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:19:36 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alan http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/07/04/amanos-election-as-iaea-director-general-deepens-japans-nuclear-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-39869 Alan Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:42:28 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=5529#comment-39869 X-posted from shared items ------------ This is such an interesting development. I like how Harris paints Japan as being in the middle ground between developed nations and developing nations, where the split involves cracking down on proliferation to new nuclear powers versus reduction of large and established stockpiles. However, the IAEA plays a large role with worldwide nuclear power as well, and this choice has an effect there as well. Japan's continued support for nuclear energy and research into nuclear energy is a strong force keeping the power source politically viable IMO. I'm not sure how much the history of the atomic bombings really plays a role here. Yes, the situation is full of ironies, but I don't think that distinguishes Japan very much in today's world. I think the pseudo-pacifist constitution has a more significant role in the perception of Japan as a characteristic non-aggressor. X-posted from shared items
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This is such an interesting development. I like how Harris paints Japan as being in the middle ground between developed nations and developing nations, where the split involves cracking down on proliferation to new nuclear powers versus reduction of large and established stockpiles.

However, the IAEA plays a large role with worldwide nuclear power as well, and this choice has an effect there as well. Japan’s continued support for nuclear energy and research into nuclear energy is a strong force keeping the power source politically viable IMO.

I’m not sure how much the history of the atomic bombings really plays a role here. Yes, the situation is full of ironies, but I don’t think that distinguishes Japan very much in today’s world. I think the pseudo-pacifist constitution has a more significant role in the perception of Japan as a characteristic non-aggressor.

]]> By: Tomohiko Satake http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/07/04/amanos-election-as-iaea-director-general-deepens-japans-nuclear-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-39369 Tomohiko Satake Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:54:48 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=5529#comment-39369 I agree with Tobias Harris. Although Japan could pursue a global non-nuclear strategy as a way of pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, such a policy would contradict Japan's regional security objectives. Some argue that Japan should introduce American nuclear missiles onto its soil by changing its three non-nuclear principles to make the US nuclear deterrence more credible (just as NATO allies attempted to do in response to the deployment of Soviet SS-20s in the 1980s). I wonder whether Japan, which is 'a moral arbiter on nuclear affairs', could really do this kind of thing... I agree with Tobias Harris. Although Japan could pursue a global non-nuclear strategy as a way of pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, such a policy would contradict Japan’s regional security objectives. Some argue that Japan should introduce American nuclear missiles onto its soil by changing its three non-nuclear principles to make the US nuclear deterrence more credible (just as NATO allies attempted to do in response to the deployment of Soviet SS-20s in the 1980s). I wonder whether Japan, which is ‘a moral arbiter on nuclear affairs’, could really do this kind of thing…

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