BY SHIN TERADA
The World War$B*"(J ended by the first two atomic bombs that humans ever dropped on fellow humans. Japanese are the only victims of nuclear weapons. That is why we feel threatened by them even after fifty-three years since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear powers however have not stopped testing nuclear weapons and India and Pakistan also declare themselves to be nuclear powers. The new appearance of nuclear powers indicates nuclear threats will never vanish.
Control of nuclear weapons by five nuclear powers started when the NPT (Nonproliferation Treaty) was presented by the US, UK and USSR. The treaty forbids nations to produce nuclear weapons except the US, UK, France, USSR and China, which had already produced them. The conclusion of the NPT has brought the five nuclear powers the monopoly of nuclear weapons. In the 90(IU(Js, non-nuclear powers demanded the complete abolishment of nuclear weapons with the change in the international situation after the Cold War. However, the nuclear powers refused, making the proposal of the CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) discontinuance of nuclear tests instead of following the proposal of the non-nuclear countries. In the management of nuclear weapons, policy favoring the nuclear power always emerges.
In (IU(J95 and (IU(J96 the conclusion of the CTBT was drawing near; France and China respectively tested their nuclear weapons. These tests were done to collect data on the improvement in simulation technique which enables nuclear powers to maintain nuclear weapons and develop them without actual nuclear detonation. India insists that with simulation techniques it is possible for nuclear powers to develop nuclear weapons after the treaty goes into effect, while it would be impossible for non-nuclear countries to produce them in the future. India and some other countries refused to conclude the CTBT because of such unfairness. On the other hand, Pakistan also disapproves of signing it, since India(IU(Js rejection it gave Pakistan a sense of military crisis.
India(IU(Js caution against the CTBT can be understood, because the CTBT promises possession of nuclear weapons to the five nuclear powers. In other words, it only justifies their maintaining their military superiority. The conclusion of the treaty means the influence of the nuclear powers would be enhanced in the world and international order would be supervised by the five major powers.
From India(IU(Js point of view, it can(IU(Jt accept the fact that five nuclear powers are allowed to have nuclear weapons, while India is not allowed to. Nuclear powers have no right to criticize India for having nuclear weapons. They consider they have an equal right to do nuclear testing like France, China and the US.
Though Japan as the only country to have been atom bombed expressed regret to India and Pakistan, Japan is defended by the US under the Japan-US Security Treaty (Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and US). Japan must annul that Treat and get out from under the US nuclear umbrella before making an open appeal against nuclear weapons.
Now, we face anew the spread of nuclear
weapons. But it the five nuclear powers(IU(J persistence in maintaining
nuclear weapons that created this situation. This is caused by the
five major powers having given priority to their own country(IU(Js
security and in reality world peace is only a secondary aim for them.
We must not accept the selfish logic of the major powers anymore.
Non-nuclear countries need to force the nuclear powers to abandon
their nuclear weapons. It is no longer for one country to solve
nuclear problems. The world has to consider a way to eliminate
nuclear weapons. And such pacifism as would have one country defend
itself with nuclear weapons would only scatter nuclear weapons all
over the world. The present situation requires the world to choose
complete abolishment of nuclear weapons or the declaration of being a
nuclear power by all countries, a declaration of universal right to
nuclear power.