Commentary: PM Ishiba’s grand vision for Japan defence finds little support, even at home

Nuclear sharing is another thorny issue which has raised concerns about the collapse of Japan’s “Three Non-Nuclear Principles”: Not possessing nuclear weapons, not producing nuclear weapons, and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into the country.

In Mr Ishiba’s view, nuclear sharing would not violate its non-nuclear principles since it pertains to Japan sharing in the decisionmaking process but not possessing nor controlling nuclear weapons.

The idea of nuclear sharing is not new and it is one area where Mr Ishiba might have more support from fellow lawmakers. Japan is grappling with the dilemma on relying on US nuclear deterrence while holding on to its vision of a world without nuclear weapons.

It was initially proposed by former prime minister Shinzo Abe and supported by conservative lawmakers like Mr Ishiba’s main LDP challenger Sanae Takaichi whom he pipped to the post. Mr Kishida, who hails from Hiroshima, was against the idea.

If Mr Ishiba’s administration pushes these discussions forward, the pushback will come from the public. Concerns are growing in Nagasaki, a city affected by the atomic bomb, and in Okinawa, which hosts a concentration of US military bases. Local voices fear that this could lead to the collapse of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and increase the burden of military bases.