Komeito chief insists Japan stick to 3 non-nuclear principles, rejects nuke deployment

Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi said on Sept. 7 that Japan should maintain its three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not introducing nuclear weapons.

He made the remarks in stiff opposition to ex-Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba's suggestion that Japan should discuss the deployment of U.S. nukes inside the country.

"An issue that is classed as national policy is something that must not be changed," Yamaguchi said at a news conference, underlining his party's stance that Japan should maintain its three non-nuclear principles.

The Komeito chief added, "Currently, the government's stance is to uphold (the three non-nuclear principles), and has made it clear that it is not thinking of changing this stance."

Yamaguchi further emphasized, "Initially, the party which took the lead regarding the three non-nuclear principles was Komeito. As a party, we have no intention of changing our stance of firmly maintaining these principles."