Should Japan go nuclear?

Should Japan go nuclear?

GRI Debate: Should Japan abandon a long-held pacifist stance and acquire nuclear weapons?

Amid escalating rhetoric between Pyongyang and Washington, it has been suggested that Japan should support the US and stabilize the region by obtaining nuclear weapons. 

The case for starting the nuclear conversation

In a special guest post for GRI, AEI resident scholar Michael Rubin, author of Dancing with the Devil, believes a nuclear Japan could be the least-worst option.

“Turning a blind eye toward nuclear proliferation is not a decision that should be taken lightly. But when it comes to North Korea, there is no good option; all the choices are unsavory. A nuclear Japan however, may be the least unsavory of all the choices, especially if its prospect causes China to reconsider the wisdom of its policies.”

Read the full article here.

Japan nuclear protest
The case for a moral anti-nuclear position

GRI Managing Editor Robyn Kelly-Meyrick argues that it makes more sense to strengthen Japan’s defenses.

“When a rogue state like North Korea continues a nuclear weapons testing program in spite of the advanced nuclear technology possessed by the US and against UN sanctions, it seems unlikely that Japan acquiring a nuclear capability would settle tensions in the region. In fact, it could have the opposite effect, spurring South Korea towards its own nuclear deterrent, while unsettling other less friendly neighbors – China.”

Read the full article here.

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Categories: Debate Corner, Security

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