Baskadia

　この論文はソ連の核戦力を抑止できる、日本独自の核武装は可能だと総括していた。ただしエンディコット大佐自身はその時点での日本核武装には反対だと付記していた。しかし４０年後のいまこの想定を中国や北朝鮮への核抑止に適用すると、十分に実効性はあるようだ。同盟国の米国はこんなに早くから日本の核武装について、ここまで研究していたということでもある。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　筆者：古森義久（ワシントン駐在客員特派員）

　ここ数年「防衛大学」を志望する高校生が増えた気がする。日本の「非核三原則」が非現実的と思っているようだ。アメリカもロシアも日本の核武装を本当は歓迎しているのではないだろうか。　

　It seems that the U.S. has been studying Japan's nuclear weapons for 40 years. Japan has enjoyed peace under the US umbrella, and the US no longer considers Japan a threat. It perceives China as a threat.
　If it is on our side, it would be in the U.S. national interest to have Japan go nuclear, as it would help to curb the Chinese threat.
　It is inconvenient for both China and North Korea because they will not be able to attack Japan easily if Japan becomes nuclear-armed. They are desperately trying to incite and fund the Japanese media and leftist forces in Japan to adhere to the three non-nuclear principles.
　How does Japan's nuclear armament look to Russia, which is currently in a critical situation due to its invasion of Ukraine? Russia would welcome a nuclear-armed Japan. From Russia's perspective, it is not in its national interest that Japan is monolithic in its military alliance with the U.S. under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
　However, if Japan becomes nuclear-armed and achieves true independence, taking a few steps apart from the US's dictates, it will mean that there will be room for negotiations. As it is now, if Russia invades from the Northern Territories and China simultaneously invades from the Senkaku Islands, the situation could be the same as in Ukraine today.
　It is time for the Diet members to start the debate immediately. First, the Constitution should be revised. Then, the Self-Defense Forces must be formally established as Japan's military force and the debate on nuclear armament must begin, or Japan could be plunged into a crisis. We should recognize that we are no longer in an era of peace.