A source within Japan's prime minister's office said Thursday that the country needs nuclear weapons, remarks that deviate from the country's long-standing non-nuclear principles and could trigger backlash at home and abroad.

A source within Japan’s prime minister’s office said Thursday that the country needs nuclear weapons, remarks that deviate from the country’s long-standing non-nuclear principles and could trigger backlash at home and abroad.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20251218205359/https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/67089

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  • Em AdespotonEnglish
    305·
    13 days ago

    They’re probably right — historically, Japan has had a defense-only army and no nuclear arsenal, and depended on the US to defend it through treaties.

    The current US administration has demonstrated that those treaties are likely worthless today; Japan can’t depend on the US to come to its aid if another country attacks them.

    • aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      13 days ago

      historically, Japan has had a defense-only army

      Recently Japan has had a defense-only army.

      Historically, Japan tried to conquer all of Asia.

      The only reason they didn’t possess nuclear weapons is because they hadn’t been invented yet.