Japan implores GA to revamp global nuclear disarmament efforts

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Sep 2023 08:35

Japan calls for the revival of talks on the 1993 Fissile Materials Cutoff Treaty (FMCT), which was never negotiated at the UN.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 (AP)

During the General Assembly session on Tuesday, Fumio Kishida led the efforts to revamp the diminishing global nuclear disarmament initiative, imploring nuclear weapons states to engage in discussions with non-nuclear weapons states.

Kishida proposed reviving discussions on the 1993 Fissile Materials Cutoff Treaty (FMCT); an agreement that has never undergone negotiations at the United Nations yet remains relevant.

Furthermore, he jointly hosted high-level talks on the FMCT with Australia and the Philippines, countries without nuclear weapons, with the hope of garnering widespread support from nations in the Global South for this initiative.

Japan is set to contribute a 3 billion yen ($20 million) fund to establish Japan Chairs at overseas research institutions and think tanks, aimed at invigorating discussions that can transcend the polarized choices between nuclear deterrence and disarmament, as articulated by Kishida.

Given his role as a legislator representing Hiroshima in the Japanese national legislature, the city that suffered the world's first nuclear attack, Kishida claims that nuclear disarmament is his lifelong commitment, although his ally has refused to apologize for the nuclear disaster, perpetrated by the US forces who massacred over 200,000 people, during a memorial visit by Biden to the region, knowing that neither did the Japanese PM insist on one.

He pledged that Japan would collaborate with the UN and relevant nations to facilitate dialogue between nuclear-armed and non-nuclear-armed states.

Furthermore, Kishida argued that using the UN Security Council's veto power is exacerbating divisions and conflicts within the organization and advocated for a broader reform of the United Nations to ensure that the UN Security Council reflects the realities of today's world.

Kishida also expressed his willingness to meet DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, seeking a diplomatic path as tensions over Pyongyang's weapons programs soar.

In a speech from the UN rostrum, Kishida said that Japan was willing to resolve all issues with DPRK.

"From the perspective of opening up a new era together, I would like to convey my determination to meet with President Kim Jong Un face to face at any time without any conditions," Kishida said.

He said he would "like to hold high-level talks under my direct supervision to realize a summit meeting at an early time."

Meanwhile, in his address to the UN General Assembly, US President Joe Biden emphasized the US intention to handle its competition with China in a responsible manner, with the aim of preventing any potential conflicts.

"When it comes to China, I want to be clear and consistent. We seek to responsibly manage the competition between our countries so it does not tip into conflict," Biden said in a speech.

The remarks came after Biden called on the Assembly to put a stop to Russia's "naked aggression" in Ukraine, claiming that the independence of other states would be at stake unless it is stopped.

"We must stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow," Biden was to say according to excerpts of his speech released by the White House.

Biden at the UNGA said the railway connection line agreed upon in the G20 summit shows how "Israel" can benefit from normalizing ties with the neighboring countries.