TASK SETTING

TASK 1 (Diversion of resources)

              It is wonderful to make preparations for a nuclear weapon-free world. In many cases it can be said that the individual methodologies and technologies for verification already exist. The problem is the political agreement and the financial resources necessary to effectively organize them. Under the CTBT, a global and reliable verification system is already being completed. However, the financial system to maintain it is not yet stable.

              We should be aware that the military expenditures used to counter nuclear proliferation and the material and human resources used for the development, maintenance and management of nuclear weapons could be more efficiently used to ensure security if they were used for establishing a verification system.

TASK 2 (Efforts in the East Asian region)

              Also, the development of cooperative relations on a regional scale is a prerequisite for effectively organizing a regional verification system. In this regard, the GOJ should make efforts for research and development on a regional verification system, with a view to establishing a NWFZ in Northeast Asia.

TASK 3 (Establishment of a study panel)

              For Japan, as the country devastated by nuclear weapons, it would be a worthwhile project to launch an expert panel to study and uncover the potential problems in verification to maintain a “nuclear weapon-free world” and to identify areas to be addressed further to the international community. When doing so, it could use as a foundation the experiences and expertise of the OPCW, CTBTO and IAEA. The Model Nuclear Weapons Convention formulated by NGOs could also serve as a reference.

EVALUATION

              As for TASK 1, the Japanese government has expressed its intention to make possible contributions to improving verification capabilities, based on the recognition that verification is generally important.

              However, the idea of the diversion of resources has never been expressed in the thinking of the GOJ. The US SSMP, as mentioned in the 5th item, has been stupendously funded, and the US budget relating to nuclear weapons is reported to be more than that during the Cold War era. The Japanese government has not expressed any concern about this situation.

              As for TASK 2, as we mentioned in relation to the 12th item, military counter measures have been given priority in addressing regional tensions. Quite a few efforts have been made to develop regional verification systems.

              As for TASK 3, the Japanese government has never considered such a plan.

              As a whole, we give it a D grade.