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Hypocrisy as Japan seeks to be nuclear power salesman

Japan emphasises that its technology exports are for the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

But as it knows only too well, the plutonium produced in fission reactors can also be used to produce nuclear weapons.

Anxiety mushrooms over Japanese nuclear exports | The Australian,  Rick Wallace,   July 15, 2010 IT’S hard not to draw cynical conclusions about Japan’s decision to pursue sales of nuclear technology overseas. One of the country’s most treasured principles appears to have a price as it hawks nuclear systems to India, the Middle East and perhaps other countries.

For years the world’s leading advocate of nuclear disarmament, Japan has recently opened talks with India about supplying reactor technology.

It has also set up a powerful nuclear export organisation comprised of leading nuclear energy companies and government agencies……

In announcing its nuclear technology exports group, the government said it would target developing nations and aim to supply construction and operation services. “This is the first, important step towards promoting Japan’s nuclear power technologies in emerging countries by public and private sector co-operation,” Trade Minister Naoshima said.

He suggested that “policy challenges” stemming from the deal could be dealt with via concluding nuclear co-operation agreements and education and legislation……………

Japan emphasises that its technology exports are for the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

But as it knows only too well, the plutonium produced in fission reactors can also be used to produce nuclear weapons.

The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, destroyed by US nuclear weapons at the end of World War II, have protested against the negotiations with India, which has refused to sign the NPT…………..

Professor Koichi Toyoshima of Japan’s Saga University, a critic of nuclear exports, says the Middle East and India are not stable enough to sell nuclear power technology to, and the gains for Japan are not worth the risk.

“If you look at the Middle East, they are in conflict with Israel and may be tempted to match its nuclear capacity,” he said.

“India has very tense relations with Pakistan. It is not wise to export nuclear technology to these sensitive areas.

“Regardless of NPT membership status, I think Japan should not export its nuclear technology to the countries that produce nuclear weapons, including China.

“It would be a big plus to the economy. But no matter how much it does for our economy, we just cannot compare it to the risk of a nuclear war.”

July 16, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, spinbuster | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin