Sanae Takaichi, the Japanese Prime Minister who has emphasized strengthening defense capabilities since taking office, avoided a direct answer on November 11 when asked whether Japan would adhere to the government's "three non-nuclear principles."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. EPA=Yonhap News. According to local media, including Kyodo News, Takaichi was questioned at a Budget Committee meeting of the House of Representatives about whether the three non-nuclear principles would be maintained in relation to the revision of the three key security documents next year. She responded by saying, "The work is just beginning. This is not the stage to discuss wording," thus evading a clear answer.

The "three non-nuclear principles," which state that Japan will not manufacture, possess, or allow the introduction of nuclear weapons, have been the basic principles of the Japanese government's nuclear policy.

Takaichi had previously argued during the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election last year that "it is contradictory to obtain deterrence through the US nuclear umbrella if the three non-nuclear principles are adhered to," and that the principle of "not allowing introduction" should be re-examined.

Since taking office as Prime Minister on October 21, she has repeatedly emphasized her intention to promote the strengthening of defense capabilities.

In particular, during her first policy speech to the Diet after taking office on October 24, she stated, "We will begin deliberations to revise the three key security documents within next year," and announced measures to bring forward the target year for achieving defense spending of 2% of GDP from the current fiscal year 2027 (April 2027 - March 2028) by two years.

The Japanese government had decided in December 2022 to revise the three key security documents and increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by fiscal year 2027.

Yonhap News