At the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, the site of the world’s first bombing, leaders issued a joint statement on the 20th with the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons. The 40-page English joint declaration was based on the “Hiroshima Vision,” a joint document on nuclear disarmament organized by the G7 on the 19th.
The Hiroshima vision is the first document on the subject of nuclear disarmament at the G7 summit. It encourages them to engage in nuclear disarmament talks targeting China and Russia based on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which limits nuclear powers to five countries (the US, the UK, Russia, China, and France) and forcing them to participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations He also emphasized the importance of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which is the key to preventing nuclear proliferation. They called for early negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Production of Fissile Materials for Weapons, which prohibits the production of highly enriched uranium, which is the raw material for nuclear weapons. They also appealed for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including nuclear power stations.
It contains messages aimed at Russia, China and North Korea. He urged Russia to return to the Strategic New Arms Reduction Treaty (New Start), a nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia.
China, which is not participating in any nuclear disarmament treaty and is increasing its nuclear power in an opaque manner, also asked for objective data such as the status of its nuclear weapons possession. “We also oppose attempts to produce plutonium under the guise of civilian use.” Expressing “serious concern” about the situation in the East and South China Seas, where China is involved in territorial disputes with Japan and Southeast Asian countries, it expressed its position that it “strongly opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo through force or coercion.” “We reaffirm that the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is indispensable for the security and prosperity of the international community,” he urged for a peaceful resolution to the cross-strait (China-Taiwan) issue. He also expressed his intention to continue raising the issue of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur region.
There were also messages aimed at North Korea. As for North Korea, he said, “We urge it to refrain from destabilizing or provocative actions, including nuclear tests or launches using ballistic missile technology.” “As long as North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs exist, it is important that (North Korea) sanctions are fully and strictly implemented and maintained by all countries,” he said.
Although this is the first time the G7 has produced a document claiming its goal of nuclear disarmament, it has been evaluated as lacking reality and novelty. There are also voices of concern about strengthening the conflict structure against North Korea, China, and Russia.
The Tokyo Shimbun said, “While criticizing Russia for its nuclear threat by invading Ukraine and China for continuing its opaque increase in nuclear forces, he stressed that the nuclear weapons possessed by the G7 members, the United States, Britain and France, for’ defense purposes and the aim of reducing nuclear energy. I don’t even give it up,” he evaluated.
Even in Japan, opinions are divided. The Yomiuri Shimbun said, “In the case of Japan, which is surrounded by nuclear North Korea, China, and Russia, there is a situation where it cannot stick to the ideal theory of nuclear disarmament alone. That is why Japan is emphasizing the nuclear umbrella of the United States,” he pointed out. The Asahi Shimbun said, “The international situation is in a state of crisis that may lead to nuclear war rather than the realization of nuclear disarmament. In this situation, can the seven major countries unite with a sense of hostility towards Russia and China?” The newspaper said that “dialogue with China and Russia is essential to lead the seven major countries towards nuclear disarmament.”
Concerns about a realistic solution are also reflected in the statement. The G7 summit statement said “To realize the world we want, no matter how narrow the path, global efforts are needed to lead from the harsh reality to the ideal.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida chose a location in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park where the Atomic Bomb Museum can be seen in front as the location for a press conference for the chair country after the closing of the G7 summit on the 21st. Prime Minister Kishida said, “The axis (which connects the Atomic Bomb Dome and the museum), which symbolizes the desire for peace, is an ideology that carries out Japan’s actions after the war , and it also represents a plan for the international community to proceed with. “It is our belief and our responsibility to ensure that future generations can enjoy peace and prosperity without fear of nuclear weapons,” he said.
