Japan battles fallout from nuke remarks

The Atomic Bomb Dome is a lasting reminder of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima

TOKYO, Japan -- The Japanese government is seeking to calm a growing storm over comments reportedly made by a member of the cabinet that Japan could abandon its ban on nuclear weapons.

Japan, the only country in the world to have suffered nuclear attack, adopted the so-called three non-nuclear principles in 1971 of "not producing, not possessing and not allowing nuclear weapons into the country."

However, on Friday a leading government official was quoted anonymously as saying Japan might reconsider its stand.

"The principles are just like the constitution. But in the face of calls to amend the constitution, the amendment of the principles is also likely," Kyodo News agency quoted the official as telling reporters.

Members of both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and several opposition lawmakers condemned the comments.

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"Japan should argue for the abolition of nuclear weapons at the time when India and Pakistan, both of which have nuclear weapons, are in a dangerous situation," Naoto Kan, Secretary General of the main opposition Democratic Party told Reuters Sunday.

"But to the contrary, he mentioned the possibility of possessing nuclear weapons. I can't believe it."

Seeking to clarify the government's position Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda hit back at the report Monday, saying Japan had no intention of changing its policy.

"I am totally surprised by the report," Fukuda told a news conference. I cannot imagine any high-ranking officials would say such a thing... If (he or she) said such a thing, this cabinet would be finished."

He added: "Japan has maintained the three non-nuclear principles and will continue to do so. There is no change whatsoever in our nuclear policy."

Pacifist policy

Following World War II, which saw the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki devastated by two American atomic bombs, Japan has followed a pacifist position in military affairs restricting its armed forces purely to a self-defense role.

However, in recent years a growing number of conservative politicians have begun to challenge that stance, saying Japan needs to take a more assertive military role.

In April this year opposition Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa drew a sharp response from Beijing when he said Japan could make nuclear weapons "overnight" and surpass China's own military strength.

Ozawa later said his remarks had been distorted and misreported.

Japan is thought to have the technical expertise to put together a nuclear bomb at relatively short notice.

However, raising the issue has largely been a political taboo although many politicians are thought to favor discussing changes to Japan's military policy.

In 1999, then parliamentary Vice Defense Minister Shingo Nishimura had to resign his post in after suggesting lawmakers should debate the nuclear ban.

The storm over the latest comments is causing another political headache for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, already battling to reverse plummeting popularity ratings over concerns about his leadership abilities and commitment to much needed reform.