Japan, Vatican partners in realizing nuclear weapons-free world, Abe tells pope

But Japan is happy just to sit under the US nuclear umbrella.

Shouldn't it be the Emperor handling such matters of state vs Abe?

I’d say that hoping for a future nuclear free world looks rather hopeless at this point.

No doubt that other high tech weapons will be developed within 20 years as well.

“dialogue, the only weapon worthy of man and capable of ensuring lasting peace”

Really? Is it possible to stop China’s aggression in the South China Sea, police brutality in Hong Kong and genocide against Tibetans and Uighurs through dialogue?

Nuclear free world should begin with the country who actually used it in combat upon civilian cities.

Asia was the area of the world to suffer nuclear weapons, agent orange, angent blue in Vietnam. Russia too tested a bunch of nukes on their eastern side, the area with Asian cities and minorities.

Asians are the victims of nukes from Hiroshima to Nagasaki.

Korean War America wanted to use them again against China. If the president at the time said Yes let's Win at any cost. China would have been nuked.

Vietnam War America again wanted to use up to 4 nukes to help them win against the commies.

Asians should be the ones to have nukes to protect ourselves from Russia and U.S. MAD Policy of Mutual destruction.

umbrellaToday 07:15 am JST

But Japan is happy just to sit under the US nuclear umbrella.

Not just sit under it, but actually host nuclear weapons in Okinawa.

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3038442/nixon-and-japans-eisaku-sato-agreed-deny-existence-secret-deal

Eisaku Sato won the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a deal that allowed nuclear weapons into his country. Many of Abe's supporters in that conservative group we hear so much about want Japan to have its own weapons as well. Sorry Pope, Abe's words are meaningless.

The pope lives behind his wall secluded, surrounded by the churchs wealth and is out of touch with reality, comes to Japan crates massive traffic chaos, wasting tax payers resources and tells us how to live.

Then goes back to his pandered life.

The nuclear umbrella helps to preserve that life and the wealth he so much enjoys.

He should be telling China to back off Hong Kong, or visiting the Middle east but we know how that would work out for him dont we

Unfortunately, Japan to be the only country to suffer twice the A-bombs. I only can see rhetorical conversation...I don't have ears to those talks if I'm one of the citizen of Hiroshima=Nagasaki, it's beyond Religion or politics, clearly more life philosophy.

Sadly, a nuclear weapon free world is a pipe dream. There will always be nuttas, rogue nations with expansionist ideas, ppl you can;t trust etc who threaten regional/world peace. Humans are obsessed with dominance (world, social, physical, financial etc) and that won't change any time soon i reckon.

Do ppl really think that Russia, the US, China, euros, NK, israel/arabs et all will one day get rid of their nuclear arsenal and wmd, i mean ALL OF THEM?? Who first!? Trust will always be an issue.

We've gone too far and am afraid that some sort of wmd 'deterrence' (mutual) is the least-bad solution for now & the foreseeable future. It only takes one nutta (out of 7-8 billion!) to get their hands on wmd. Too big a risk imo.

And tbf, NK, Iranians & others have been living under 'our' (western) nuclear sword of Damocles for decades.

Whatever one may consider to be merits / demerits of nuclear weapons aside for the moment, I'm always amazed how Abe & others consistently trot out "the only country to have suffered under nuclear attack" line.

While at the same time refusing to be a signatory to the UN sponsored Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Take whatever side you want, but playing the poor old us card in public, while refusing to join with others (123 countries to date) in banning the weapons that caused such suffering is deceitful.

While Japan let nuclear weapons on US bases in Japan

Abe: Welcome, sir. As a leader in a number of fields, and a wise man, we can always use your advice and suggestions.

Pope: Thank you, my son. Now, you agree on a nuclear weapons-free world, isn't that so?

Abe: With all of my heart and soul, your grace.

Pope: I see. Well, then, how about the ban on nuclear weapons. Would it be possible to rethink the government of Japan's stance on not signing it?

Abe: Soudesu ne. That is quite complicated, your Grace.

Pope: It's not, actually. If you believe in a nuclear weapons-free world, you would sign the ban. Not signing it means you support the presence of nuclear weapons, and surely you cannot equate that to wishing in your heart and soul for a world without said weapons.

Abe: We don't need foreign input on this issue.

Abe expressed his resolve to achieve the goal as Japan is the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings, 

Yes, Japan is the only country to suffered atomic bombings, but we should never forget the tens of millions whose suffering was much greater during Japan’s imperial rule and colonizing of Asia. Japan was a victim. A victim of their own stupidity.

Abe made Japan an arms dealer in 2014, so this doesn't square away the notion of peace over profit

What about you show the Pope, people who are indefinitely held in detention centers across Japan.? listen to their views. The real face of a draconian judicial system. Doesn't that count as one worst human rights violation too? Here is a Bible verse for you 'Learn to do right. See that justice is done — help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows. (Isaiah 1:17.

Really? Is it possible to stop China’s aggression in the South China Sea, police brutality in Hong Kong and genocide against Tibetans and Uighurs through dialogue?

Since this article is talking about nuclear weapons, I'm presuming you're supportive of having it over just mere dialogues.

If so, then how are nuclear weapons stopping China from doing any of those things? A nuclear war would guarantee the many deaths of all the peoples you mentioned.

Also, ironically in many ways, nuclear arms is allowing China to do all of those things.

let start with 100 millions of radioactive water then Japan says it's harmless so lets dump it in their lakes

It's always funny to listen to those who defend Japan using the victim card with Hiroshima and Nagasaki then turn around and defend the government's not signing the ban on nuclear weapons at the same time as it claims to be for ridding the world of them. It'd be funny if it were not so sad and see-through.

Japan got off very lightly after WW2. It is just so fortunate that the USA developed the atomic bomb before Japan did (who were getting to an advanced stage at that time).

Otherwise it would be s Shinto Buddhist visiting a western city that was atomic bombed, preaching peace.

Thanks to Japan, the world now has nuclear weapons, and the knowledge of how to develop them.

Rgcivilian1:

Bit tricky with the Pope. He is the secular head of state (sovereign - like a monarch) of Vatican city and has a pontifical president (head of govt - prime minister), but can technically rule. Further, on the spiritual side, he is absolute theocratic sovereign and ruler of the Holy See (catholic church HQ et al).

As he was speaking about dumping nuclear weapons for a better world, that could be political, diplomatic, or even spiritual. So technically, any of his positions could cover. A prime minister or emperor could also be on the other end.

We will probably be long gone before the world will be free from nuclear weapons.

After many years of studying, development and investment in nuclear weapons from all the countries that own them today, which are continuing to produce and invest in them, to get rid of those weapons in the world that we live today, thats just impossible.