4 Disarmament and Nonproliferation and the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

(1) Nuclear Disarmament

As the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan has a historical mission to lead international efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons.

At the same time, Japan is facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II, and in areas surrounding Japan, nuclear arms expansion is advancing in both quantity and quality. Against this backdrop, based on the premise that Japan itself will not possess nuclear weapons, the extended deterrence provided by the U.S., including its nuclear capabilities, is essential in order for Japan to protect the lives and property of its citizens, as well as its own independence and peace.

Moreover, as seen in the situation surrounding the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), there is a divergence of views on how to advance nuclear disarmament, not only between nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States but also among non-nuclear-weapon States depending on whether they are exposed to nuclear threats. Under such circumstances, it is essential to persistently advance realistic and practical efforts, while bridge-building between states with divergent views, in order to promote nuclear disarmament.

With the aim of realizing a world without nuclear weapons, Japan is steadily advancing efforts toward nuclear disarmament. While building on the “G7 Leaders' Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament” issued at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023 as a solid platform, Japan will continue and strengthen realistic and practical efforts by implementing each of the initiatives under the “Hiroshima Action Plan”⁽¹⁵⁾ announced by Prime Minister Kishida at the NPT Review Conference in 2022. Furthermore, Japan has continued to pursue bridge-building between states with divergent views. It has done this, for example, through meetings of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP), submitting the Resolution on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in the UN General Assembly, and cooperation and collaboration with like-minded countries, including within the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), as well as individual consultations. Moreover, Japan intends to continue maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, which is the only universal framework toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons. It aims to achieve this through cumulative efforts including through building up realistic and practical efforts by also involving nuclear-weapon States, such as through encouraging states to promote the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to immediately commence negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). As a part of such efforts, the launch of the “FMCT Friends” in 2024, promoting disarmament and non-proliferation education, and further, discussions towards the realization of effective nuclear disarmament verification. The TPNW is an important treaty that could be regarded as a final passage to a world without nuclear weapons. On the other hand, it imposes a comprehensive ban on the possession and use of nuclear weapons, and under the current circumstances, it is highly unlikely that any nuclear-weapon States will sign the treaty given its incompatibility with nuclear deterrence. It is difficult to pursue nuclear disarmament without the engagement of nuclear-weapon States, and Japan believes that it remains preferable for global nuclear disarmament efforts to be promoted under the NPT. In light of the increasingly challenging road toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons, Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, considers it even more pertinent to continue making every effort to advance realistic and practical measures with the participation of both nuclear-weapon States and state parties to the TPNW, based on the NPT regime, while maintaining and strengthening deterrence as well as responding appropriately to security threats as the fundamental premise.

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• (15) Proposed by Prime Minister Kishida at the NPT Review Conference in August 2022. As the first step of a realistic roadmap to take us from the “reality” we face in the harsh security environment to the “ideal” of a world without nuclear weapons, it is rooted in the following five actions alongside efforts to reduce nuclear risks: (a) shared recognition on the importance of continuing the record of non-use of nuclear weapons; (b) enhancing transparency; (c) maintaining the decreasing trend of the global nuclear stockpile; (d) securing nuclear non-proliferation and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and, (e) encouraging visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki by international leaders and others.

A Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

Japan places great importance on maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. NPT Review Conferences have been held once every five years with the aim of achieving the goals of the NPT and ensuring compliance with its provisions, and discussions that reflect the international situation of the time have been held since the NPT entered into force in 1970.

The second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference in 2026 was convened from July 22 to August 2 at the UN Office in Geneva. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs KOMURA Masahiro represented Japan at this meeting, during which he delivered a statement at the General Debate. He stated that the international community is now at a turning point in history and the security environment is rapidly becoming more severe, which is why Japan, as the only country to has ever suffered atomic bombings during war, is leading the international community's efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons, under the “Hiroshima Action Plan” and with the NPT as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. He added that Japan will cooperate with the international community to advance efforts on nuclear non-proliferation, including issues regarding North Korea and Iran, and emphasized that Japan is actively engaged in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Chair's Summary for this session of the Preparatory Committee was submitted as a working paper, and it reflected a wide range of elements emphasized by Japan in the Hiroshima Action Plan, including enhancing the transparency regarding States' nuclear arsenal and the immediate commencement of negotiations on an FMCT. Japan appreciates the issuance of the Chair's Summary under the current severe security environment, and considers it meaningful that the State Parties demonstrated a common recognition of the importance of maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime toward the next NPT Review Conference in 2026, and that candid exchanges were held in person.

B International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP)

The International Group of Eminent Persons (IGEP) was established in 2022 to provide a forum for participants from nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States, as well as those from countries participating and not participating in the TPNW, to exchange ideas and thoughts beyond their respective national positions, with the involvement of former and incumbent political leaders of the world, and engaged in candid discussions concerning a concrete path toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons. Following the first meeting (December 2022, Hiroshima), the second meeting (April 2023, Tokyo), and the third meeting (December 2023, Nagasaki), the fourth meeting was held in Yokohama on May 21 and 22. In addition to three Japanese members, including Chair SHIRAISHI Takashi (Special Professor of Emeritus of the Prefectural University of Kumamoto), 10 non-Japanese members from both nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States also attended the meeting, making 13 members in total participating in person. Two other non-Japanese members also attended the meeting online. Foreign Minister Kamikawa delivered a video message at the start of the meeting, in which she introduced continued efforts by the Government of Japan toward a world without nuclear weapons and stated that Japan will continue to pursue realistic and practical efforts, taking the sage views of the IGEP as guidance. The IGEP members held frank and in-depth discussions through six sessions, focusing on responsibilities, ethics, and norms surrounding nuclear weapons, updates to nuclear arms control and non-proliferation regimes, and the impact of emerging technologies such as AI, with a view to making recommendations to the 2026 NPT Review Conference.

The fifth meeting was held online on November 6 and 7. In addition to three Japanese members including Chair Shiraishi, 11 non-Japanese members also attended the meeting, making 14 members in total participating. For this meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba sent a written message stating that in the midst of an international climate with increasing division and conflict, he looks forward to receiving recommendations grounded in the sage views of IGEP, and that he would like to contribute to the future of the international community together. During the meeting, the IGEP members engaged in discussions focusing on issues such as the importance of norms and ethics surrounding nuclear weapons, strengthening the NPT-based Non-Proliferation Regime, and the impact of emerging technologies such as AI on nuclear risks, with a view to preparing recommendations to the 2026 NPT Review Conference.

C Japan Chair for a world without nuclear weapons

In his address at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly in 2023, Prime Minister Kishida announced the establishment of “Japan Chair for a world without nuclear weapons” at overseas research institutes and think tanks with a view to overcoming the dichotomy of “deterrence versus disarmament.” Following the announcement, “Japan Chairs” were established as specialized posts for nuclear disarmament at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (U.S.), Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (Austria), and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Asia (IISS-Asia) (Singapore).

Based on the recognition that multilayered efforts, not just government efforts, are important in order to steadily advance the trend of “mainstreaming” nuclear disarmament, the Japan Chair initiative is aimed at stimulating discussions on “realistic and practical nuclear disarmament” for which Japan advocates, as well as contributing to overcoming divisions in the international community.

D The Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI)

The NPDI, a group of 12 non-nuclear-weapon States⁽¹⁶⁾ from various regions established under the leadership of Japan and Australia in 2010 has served as a bridge between nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States. It leads efforts in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation through its realistic and practical proposals. In August 2022, Prime Minister Kishida attended the 11th NPDI High-level Meeting held in New York, as the first Prime Minister of Japan to attend this NPDI High-level Meeting. A Joint High-level Statement was released after the meeting, which expressed NPDI's resolve to remain committed to fostering the sustained, high-level political leadership and diplomatic dialogue needed to strengthen the implementation of the NPT. The NPDI has actively contributed to the NPT review process through realistic and practical proposals, including the submission of 19 working papers to the Ninth NPT Review process and 18 to the Tenth NPT Review process. At the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference in 2026 held from July to August, NPDI released a joint statement and submitted joint working papers on transparency (reporting) and accountability, as well as on promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

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• (16) Japan, Australia, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and the Philippines

E Initiatives Through the United Nations (Resolution on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons)

Since 1994, Japan has submitted draft resolutions on the elimination of nuclear weapons to the UN General Assembly. They incorporate issues of the time related to nuclear disarmament with a view to presenting a realistic and concrete nuclear disarmament approach proposed by Japan to the international community. Recognizing the need to present a way forward for realistic and practical measures to realize a world without nuclear weapons, the 2024 draft resolution took into consideration discussions at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th NPT Review Conference in 2026, and focused on calling on the international community to implement concrete measures to make substantial progress on negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) and to enhance transparency, in order to further realize and promote the “Hiroshima Action Plan,” while underscoring the importance of NPT as a cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. Furthermore, in regard to promoting understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings, the draft resolution also referred to hibakusha (those who have suffered as a result of the use of nuclear weapons), including Nihon Hidankyo, recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize 2024. The resolution was adopted with the support (affirmative votes) of 145 countries at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in November, and 152 countries at the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly in December. The states supporting the resolution have divergent views, including nuclear-weapon States such as the U.S. and UK, as well as U.S. allies such as NATO member countries, Australia, the ROK, and the states advocating the TPNW. While other resolutions that comprehensively addressed nuclear disarmament were submitted to the General Assembly in addition to Japan's draft resolution on the elimination of nuclear weapons, Japan has enjoyed support among a larger number of states. Every year, Japan's resolutions continue to enjoy the broad support of states with divergent views in the international community.

F Initiatives Through the United Nations (Ministerial Meeting of the UN Security Council on “Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation”)

On March 18, Foreign Minister Kamikawa chaired the Ministerial Meeting of the UN Security Council on “Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation,” which was for the first time under the presidency of Japan. Among the 15 members of the Security Council, ministerial-level representatives from Japan, as well as three countries and the U.S., participated in this meeting. In her statement, Foreign Minister Kamikawa stated that Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, has led the international community toward a world without nuclear weapons, through various measures such as submitting the Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament, proposing the “Hiroshima Action Plan,” and holding the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, based on the belief that the catastrophes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. She also stated that it is important to steadily advance realistic and practical efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons given the increasingly severe situation surrounding nuclear disarmament, and emphasized that maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime is the cornerstone of such efforts. At the meeting, delegations including those from nuclear-weapon States, namely the U.S., Russia, the UK, France, and China, engaged in active discussions on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation based on the experiences and knowledge of their own countries, and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime. The meeting also provided an opportunity to accelerate substantive discussion between nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States toward the NPT Review Conference in 2026. Participants from many countries pointed out that the world is once again in a very severe situation and expressed that no other countries are more suitable than Japan to raise this agenda. They also shared their own experiences of visits to Hiroshima, and spoke about the importance of the role of women in conflict and the possible impact of emerging technologies such as AI. (See the Special Feature on page 233.)

G Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

Japan attaches great importance to promoting the entry into force of the CTBT as a realistic measure for nuclear disarmament where both nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States can participate. It continues making diplomatic efforts to call on countries which have not signed or ratified the treaty, including states whose ratifications are necessary for its entry into force. The Eleventh Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT was held during the UN General Assembly High-level Week in September. In her statement, Foreign Minister Kamikawa spoke about the importance of promoting the universalization and the early entry into force of the CTBT, along with the strengthening of its verification system, as a part of realistic and practical efforts towards a world without nuclear weapons, amid the increasingly severe international security environment. At the same time, she called on all relevant states to declare new or maintain existing moratoriums on nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion until the Treaty enters into force. At the end of the meeting, a Joint Ministerial Statement was adopted. It stressed the importance of the early entry into force of the CTBT, urged for early ratification by all states, including states whose ratifications are necessary for entry into force, urged North Korea to take concrete actions toward the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and related programs, highlighted the importance of maintaining nuclear test explosion moratoria, ensuring and strengthening the effectiveness of the CTBT verification regime, and underscored the significance of CTBT at the political level.

H Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT⁽¹⁷⁾)

A Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) would have great significance for both disarmament and non-proliferation, as it would prevent the emergence of new states possessing nuclear-weapons by banning the production of fissile materials such as highly-enriched uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons. At the same time, it would limit the production of nuclear weapons by nuclear-weapon States. However, since the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution calling for an FMCT in 1993, no consensus has been reached on the commencement of negotiations on such a treaty despite decades of discussions in the Conference on Disarmament (CD). In light of such a situation, it was decided at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in 2016 to establish the high-level fissile material cut-off treaty expert preparatory group. Japan actively participated in the preparatory group's discussions, and a report was compiled by the group in 2018.

Furthermore, at the Ministerial Meeting of the UN Security Council on “Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation” chaired by Japan in March 2024, Foreign Minister Kamikawa announced the establishment of the “FMCT Friends” with the aim of maintaining and enhancing political attention on an FMCT. During the UN General Assembly High-level Week in September, Prime Minister Kishida hosted the High-Level Launch Meeting of the Friends of an FMCT, and launched the “FMCT Friends” with high-level representatives of the “FMCT Friends” member states, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and the Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kishida emphasized the need for an early start to negotiations on an FMCT, which limits the quantitative improvement of nuclear weapons by banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons, as the world is on the cusp of a reversal of the decreasing trend of the number of nuclear arsenals for the first time since the peak of the Cold War. A number of participating countries pointed out the need for political will to realize an early start to negotiations on an FMCT, and the Joint Press Release issued after the meeting affirmed that participants would work closely together to enhance political attention on an FMCT, and cooperate with the relevant countries and partners toward launching negotiations as soon as possible. (See the Special Feature on page 233.)

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• (17) A treaty concept that aims to prevent the increase in the number of nuclear weapons by prohibiting the production of fissile materials (such as enriched uranium and plutonium) that are used as materials to produce nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive device.

I Disarmament and Non-proliferation Education

As the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan places great importance on disarmament and non-proliferation education. Specifically, Japan has been actively engaged in efforts to convey the realities of the atomic bombings to people around the world, through activities such as translating the testimonies of atomic bomb survivors into other languages, invitations for young diplomats from various countries to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki through the UN Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament,⁽¹⁸⁾ providing assistance for holding atomic bomb exhibitions overseas,⁽¹⁹⁾ and designating atomic bomb survivors who have given testimonies of their atomic bomb experiences as “Special Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons.”⁽²⁰⁾

At the General Debate of the NPT Review Conference held in August 2022, Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan would contribute 10 million U.S. dollars to the UN for the establishment of the “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons.” The goal of this program is to create a global network of future generations with the shared goal toward the elimination of nuclear weapons by bringing future leaders such as young policymakers and researchers from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States to Japan to learn firsthand the realities of the atomic bombings. Under the Fund, courses commenced in December 2023, and in August, 49 young leaders selected among those who completed the online training courses participated in a week-long study tour in Japan, during which they visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Additionally, as the atomic bomb survivors are aging, it is becoming increasingly important to pass on the realities of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings across generations and borders. To this end, from 2013 to 2024, Japan conferred the designation of “Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons” on more than 750 youths in Japan and overseas.

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• (18) A UN training program aimed at fostering disarmament experts particularly in developing countries. Its implementation was decided at the First United Nations Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD) in 1978. Since 1983, Japan has invited participants of the program (young diplomats and others from various countries) to Japan at the expense of the Government of Japan; as of 2024, 1,027 participants have visited Japan. The study visit to Japan provides a meaningful opportunity to promote understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings through tours of museums in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, talks by atomic bomb survivors about their experiences, and other activities.
• (19) Opened as a permanent exhibition about the atomic bomb in New York, U.S.; Geneva, Switzerland; and Vienna, Austria, in cooperation with Hiroshima City and Nagasaki City.
• (20) From 2010 to 2022, more than 300 atomic bomb survivors have been named “Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons.”

J Initiatives Toward Future Arms Control and Disarmament

In the area of nuclear disarmament, in addition to initiatives through multilateral frameworks such as the NPT, the U.S. and Russia have also concluded and maintained a bilateral arms control treaty. On February 3, 2021, the two countries agreed on an extension to the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START Treaty). The New START Treaty demonstrates important progress in nuclear disarmament between the U.S. and Russia, and Japan welcomed this extension. However, in August 2022, Russia announced the exemption of all its facilities from inspection activities temporarily. It also notified the U.S. about the postponement of the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) scheduled for November the same year. In January 2023, the U.S. Department of State submitted a report to Congress stating that Russia cannot be certified as being in compliance with the New START Treaty. In February of the same year, President Putin announced in his Address to the Federal Assembly the suspension of the implementation of the New START Treaty. In light of these developments, the “G7 Leaders' Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament,” for example, also expressed deep regret over Russia's decision to undermine the New START Treaty, and called on Russia to enable a return to full implementation of the Treaty.

In view of the recent situations surrounding nuclear weapons, it is important to establish a new arms control mechanism that encompasses a wider range of countries beyond the U.S. and Russia, while also including a broader range of weapon systems. From this perspective, Japan has been explaining this issue to the relevant countries at various levels. Furthermore, the aforementioned Resolution on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons also reaffirms the special responsibility of nuclear-weapon States to initiate arms control dialogues on effective measures to prevent a nuclear arms race.

(2) Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security

A Japan's Efforts Toward Non-proliferation

As stated in the 2022 National Security Strategy of Japan, to ensure Japan's security and to maintain peace and security of the international community, Japan has been making efforts concerning non-proliferation policy. The goal of such a policy is to prevent the proliferation of weapons that could threaten Japan and the international community (weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear weapons and biological/chemical weapons, as well as missiles with the ability to deliver those weapons and conventional weapons) and of related materials and technologies used to develop such weapons.

Amid the upheaval of the international order, there are growing concerns over proliferation in countries such as North Korea, Iran, and Syria. Proliferation risks are also growing on the back of many factors. For one, economic growth has enabled expanded capacity to produce and supply weapons as well as materials that could be diverted to the development of such weapons. In addition, distribution channels have become more complex alongside advancing globalization, and procurement methods for substances of concern and other materials have become increasingly sophisticated. The emergence of new technologies has also heightened the risk of the diversion of private sector technologies to military uses. Furthermore, with growing demand for nuclear energy in recent years, non-proliferation and nuclear security are also becoming increasingly important.

Under these circumstances, Japan has been implementing its non-proliferation policies through international non-proliferation regimes and rules, taking non-proliferation measures domestically, and promoting close coordination with and capacity building support for other nations.

Measures for preventing proliferation include IAEA safeguards, export control, and counter-proliferation initiatives, as well as the aforementioned NPT, CTBT, and FMCT.

Safeguards refer to verification activities for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, conducted in accordance with safeguards agreements between states and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and aim to ensure that nuclear energy (nuclear materials) will not be diverted from peaceful uses, such as nuclear power generation, to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Safeguards are a primary means of achieving nuclear non-proliferation, which is one of three pillars of the NPT, and strengthening safeguards is vital toward promoting nuclear disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear power. As a designated member of the IAEA Board of Governors,⁽²¹⁾ Japan is advancing various efforts including supporting the IAEA's activities, supporting enhanced understanding and implementation capabilities toward safeguards, and promoting the universalization of the Additional Protocol (AP).⁽²²⁾ Japan also contributes to capacity development in the area of safeguards in each country, such as through its contributions to the meetings of the Asia Pacific Safeguards Network (APSN) and training projects conducted in Japan for Asian countries.

Export control is an effort undertaken from the supply-side toward countries of proliferation concern, terrorist organizations, and other entities attempting to acquire or distribute weapons or related materials or technologies. There are four export control frameworks (international export control regimes) in the international community. Japan participates in all of them upon their inception, engaging in international coordination and practicing strict export control. Each of the four regimes, namely the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for nuclear weapons, the Australia Group (AG) for chemical and biological weapons, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) for missiles,⁽²³⁾ and the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) for conventional weapons, establishes a list of dual-use items and technologies which contribute to the development of weapons that should be controlled. To ensure the non-proliferation of materials and technologies of concern, participating countries to the regimes implement export control measures on the listed items and technologies in accordance with their domestic laws. Japan is actively involved in international rule-making and the implementation of rules, and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna serves as the Point of Contact of the NSG.

Furthermore, Japan is promoting counter-proliferation initiatives with a view to complementing such safeguards and the activities of the international export control regimes, and comprehensively addressing the proliferation and threat of weapons of mass destruction. Specifically, Japan participates actively in the activities of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),⁽²⁴⁾ and works jointly with each country to implement and consider possible measures with relevant international and national legal authorities in order to interdict the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles, along with related materials. In addition, with regard to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540,⁽²⁵⁾ which was adopted in 2004 with the aim of preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery (missiles) to non-state actors, Japan contributes to maintaining and strengthening international non-proliferation regimes through means such as making financial contributions to support the implementation of the resolution by Asian nations.

Non-proliferation measures, including export control, play a role in enhancing the predictability of the international business environment and promoting investment and trade. In order to carry out efficient and effective export control while ensuring free trade in the highly globalized world economy, Japan is advancing international coordination efforts, including the harmonization and strengthening of the national export control systems of various countries, in cooperation with Japan's industry and academia which have advanced technologies. In this regard, Japan holds the Asia Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation (ASTOP)⁽²⁶⁾ and the Asian Export Control Seminar⁽²⁷⁾ every year in order to promote a better understanding of the non-proliferation regimes and strengthen regional efforts, mainly in Asian countries.

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• (21) 13 countries are designated by the IAEA Board of Governors. The designated member states include Japan and other countries with advanced nuclear energy capabilities.
• (22) In addition to a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) that is applied on all nuclear materials pertaining to the peaceful nuclear activities in that country, and that non-nuclear-weapon NPT States Parties are required to conclude with the IAEA pursuant to Article III Paragraph 1 of the NPT, an Additional Protocol is concluded between the IAEA and the respective State Parties. The conclusion of the Additional Protocol expands the scope of nuclear activity information that should be declared to the IAEA, and gives the IAEA strengthened measures to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear materials and activities. As of October 2024, 143 countries have concluded the Additional Protocol.
• (23) Apart from export control regimes, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), which includes the principle of exercising restraint in their development and deployment, addresses the issue of ballistic missiles. As of October 2024, 145 countries subscribe to the HCOC.
• (24) PSI launched in 2003. As of October 2024, 115 countries participate in and support the PSI. In 2013, the six countries of Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the ROK, Singapore, and the U.S. agreed to conduct a yearly rotation exercise in the Asia Pacific region. Through the cooperation of agencies including MOFA, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Finance, the Japan Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defense, Japan has hosted PSI maritime interdiction exercises in 2004, 2007, and 2018, PSI air interdiction exercises in 2012, and an Operational Experts Group (OEG) meeting in 2010. Japan has also actively participated in training and related meetings hosted by other countries, including the training hosted by Australia most recently in September 2024.
• (25) Adopted in April 2004, UN Security Council resolution 1540 obliges all countries to: (a) refrain from providing support to terrorists and other non-state actors attempting to develop weapons of mass destruction; (b) adopt and enforce laws prohibiting the development of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists and other non-state actors; and (c) implement domestic controls (protective measures, border control, export controls, etc.) to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The resolution also establishes, under the UN Security Council, the 1540 Committee, which comprises Security Council members and has a mandate to review and report to the Security Council the level of resolution 1540 implementation by member states.
• (26) A multilateral Director-General-level meeting launched in 2003 and hosted by Japan to discuss various issues related to the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime in Asia among the 10 ASEAN member states, China, India, the ROK, as well as the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, and the EU, which have common interests in Asian regional security. Most recently, the 19th meeting was held in October 2024, and discussions were held on topics such as proliferation challenges in Asia and the strengthening of export control.
• (27) A seminar hosted by Japan to exchange views and information toward strengthening export controls in Asia, with the participation of export control officials from Asian countries and regions. It has been organized annually in Tokyo since 1993. (It was suspended only in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.)

B Regional Non-proliferation Issues

In 2024, North Korea conducted launches of ballistic missiles, including an Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)-class as well as a launch using ballistic missile technology for the purpose of a satellite launch. This series of actions by North Korea is a flagrant violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and constitutes a grave and imminent threat to Japan's national security. At the same time, it also poses a clear and serious challenge to the international community, and is absolutely unacceptable. The IAEA Director General's report in August pointed out that North Korea's nuclear activities continue to be a cause for serious concern, and that the continuation of North Korea's nuclear programme is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Moreover, at the IAEA General Conference convened in September, a resolution calling strongly on North Korea to take concrete steps toward achieving complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all of its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear plans, as well as the prompt suspension of all related activities, was adopted by consensus. This demonstrated the united position of the IAEA member states toward the denuclearization of North Korea. Japan also actively communicated to the international community the importance of addressing North Korea's nuclear issue at The Secondary Preparatory Committee for the 2026 NPT Review Conference held from July to August, as well as the IAEA General Conference in September, and the IAEA Board of Governors' Meetings.

It is crucial that the international community makes concerted efforts to fully implement the UN Security Council resolutions for dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, by North Korea. Military cooperation such as the transfer of ballistic missiles from North Korea to Russia is a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and Japan will continue to coordinate closely with related countries, including the U.S. and the ROK, as well as international organizations such as the UN and the IAEA. At the same time, from the viewpoint of the full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions, Japan will work on capacity building for export control, particularly in Asia. Japan will also continue to contribute actively to discussions on North Korea's nuclear and missile activities in international export control regimes such as the NSG and the MTCR.

Since the withdrawal of the U.S. (administration under President Trump's first term) from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)⁽²⁸⁾ in 2018 and the reimposition of independent sanctions on Iran, Iran has continued actions to reduce its commitments under the JCPOA. In February 2021, Iran suspended the implementation of transparency measures under the JCPOA including the AP, and commenced production of 60% enriched uranium in April the same year.

Japan has consistently supported the JCPOA, which contributes to strengthening the international non-proliferation regime. From this perspective, it has continued to support efforts by relevant countries toward the rebuilding of JCPOA by both the U.S. and Iran. Deeply concerned by Iran's continued reduction of its commitments under the JCPOA, Japan has repeatedly urged Iran to refrain from further measures that may undermine the JCPOA and to fully return to its commitments under the JCPOA.

In March 2023, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Iran to discuss these issues related to the implementation of the JCPOA and the series of safeguards issues (in which nuclear materials that had not been declared to the IAEA were found in Iran). The two sides issued a joint statement toward future cooperation on matters such as the safeguards issues. Subsequently, as the cooperation between the two sides, including the implementation of the joint statement, stagnated, a resolution was issued at the IAEA Board of Governor's meeting in June, calling upon Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA without any further delay. In November, Director General Grossi revisited Iran once again and engaged in discussions on cooperation between the two sides. Based on the outcomes of the discussion, another resolution was issued at the Board of Governor's meeting in November requesting the Director General to produce a comprehensive and updated assessment on Iran's safeguards issue. Japan will continue to call strongly on Iran to cooperate completely and unconditionally with the IAEA. Japan will also continue to contribute to discussions related to Iran's nuclear, missile, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) activities in the international export control regimes such as the NSG and the MTCR.

As for Syria, the IAEA Board of Governors in 2011 found that activities such as Syria's undeclared construction of a nuclear reactor would constitute non-compliance with its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, and the issue remains unresolved and under discussion to this day. The IAEA visited three facilities related to the undeclared construction of nuclear reactors by October 2024. Future developments of this issue will be our concern. To address this outstanding issue, Japan has called upon Syria to cooperate fully with the IAEA. It is important for Syria to sign, ratify and implement the AP.

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• (28) Sets forth detailed procedures for imposing constraints on Iran's nuclear activities while ensuring that they serve peaceful purposes, and for lifting the imposed sanctions.
  <Main measures undertaken by Iran>
  ●Constraints on enriched uranium-related activities
  ・Limit on the number of centrifuges in operation to 5,060 units
  ・Upper limit on enriched uranium at 3.67%, and limit on the amount of stored enriched uranium at 300kg, etc.
  ●Constraints on the Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor, and reprocessing
  ・Redesign / remodeling of the Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor so that it is not able to produce weapon-grade plutonium and to transfer spent fuel out of the country
  ・No reprocessing including for research purposes, no construction of reprocessing facilities, etc.

C Nuclear Security

Nuclear security is aimed at preventing acts of terrorism involving the use of nuclear and other radioactive materials. In the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., there has been growing recognition of the importance of nuclear security as a counter-terrorism measure. Thereafter, multilateral conferences, including the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT), Nuclear Security Summit, and the International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS) have been held with a view to strengthening nuclear security. Progress has been also made in cooperation in the international community, with the entry into force of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism in 2007 and of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in 2015. However, as the activities of GICNT conducted under the joint chairs of the U.S. and Russia came to a standstill due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the U.S. launched the Global Forum to Prevent Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism (Global FTPRNT). At the inaugural meeting held in November, the participants discussed measures on how to enhance nuclear counter-terrorism capabilities, among other matters. It also called for efforts to ensure the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

In May, State Minister for Foreign Affairs TSUJI Kiyoto attended the ministerial-level meeting of 4th ICONS organized by the IAEA, where he delivered a speech on behalf of the Government of Japan. In his speech, State Minister Tsuji stated that, amid growing energy demand in every country and a global trend toward decarbonization, as well as growing interest in nuclear power generation in the international community, it is necessary for countries advancing the peaceful use of nuclear energy to raise awareness of nuclear security, such as the proliferation risk of nuclear weapons and nuclear materials to non-state actors, and to work toward ensuring the highest level of nuclear security standards. With regard to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, he stated that the “seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security”⁽²⁹⁾ set out by the IAEA Director General should not be compromised, and that Japan, under the leadership of the IAEA Director General, will continue to contribute toward ensuring the highest level of nuclear security standards in the international community in collaboration with the IAEA and the other countries engaging in relevant activities.

The IAEA General Conference held in September engaged in discussions on Ukraine's nuclear safety, security and safeguards, and a resolution was adopted by a majority vote that expressed concern over Russia's failure to heed previous resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors calling for the immediate cessation of all actions against and at Ukraine's nuclear facilities and commended and supported IAEA's efforts to ensure nuclear safety in Ukraine, including the IAEA Director General's Seven Pillars and five principles.⁽³⁰⁾ Japan will continue to strongly condemn Russia's aggression, including its seizure of nuclear facilities, and to support the IAEA's efforts to ensure the nuclear safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

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• (29) 1. The physical integrity of the facilities – whether it is the reactors, fuel ponds, or radioactive waste stores – must be maintained;
  2. All safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times;
  3. The operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure;
  4. There must be secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites;
  5. There must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites;
  6. There must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measures;
  7. There must be reliable communications with the regulator and others.
• (30) 1. There should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant, in particular targeting the reactors, spent fuel storage, other critical infrastructure, or personnel;
  2. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) should not be used as storage or a base for heavy weapons (i.e., multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems and munitions, and tanks) or military personnel that could be used for an attack from the plant;
  3. Off-site power to the plant should not be put at risk. To that effect, all efforts should be made to ensure that off-site power remains available and secure at all times;
  4. All structures, systems and components essential to the safe and secure operation of ZNPP should be protected from attacks or acts of sabotage;
  5. No action should be taken that undermines these principles.

(3) Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

A Multilateral Efforts

Along with nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is one of the three pillars of the NPT. According to the treaty, it is the “inalienable right” for any country that meets its obligations to non-proliferation to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Against the backdrop of growing global energy demand and rising interest in decarbonized energy sources, many countries use, or plan to use, nuclear power.⁽³¹⁾ In light of such global trends, the First Nuclear Energy Summit was convened in Brussels, Belgium, in March 2024. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, KOMURA Masahiro, attended the Summit on behalf of Japan.

On the other hand, these nuclear materials, equipment, and technologies used for nuclear power generation can be diverted to uses for military purposes, and a nuclear accident in one country may have significant impacts on neighboring countries. For these reasons, with regard to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, it is vital to ensure the “3S”;⁽³²⁾ that is, (a) Safeguards, (b) Nuclear Safety (e.g. measures to ensure safety to prevent nuclear accidents), and (c) Nuclear Security. As the country that experienced the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, it is Japan's responsibility to share its experiences and lessons learned from the accident with other countries and to contribute to enhancing global nuclear safety. In 2013, the IAEA Response and Assistance Network (RANET) Capacity Building Centre (CBC) was designated in Fukushima Prefecture. At this Center, the IAEA and Japan cooperate to conduct training for Japanese and foreign officials to strengthen their capacity in the field of emergency preparedness and response.

Nuclear energy is applied not only to the field of power generation, but also to the field of non-power generation, including health, medical treatment, food, agriculture, the environment, and industrial uses. Promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in such non-power applications and contributing to development issues are becoming increasingly important as developing countries make up the majority of NPT States Parties. Therefore, the IAEA also contributes to technical cooperation for developing countries and to the achievement of the SDGs.

In this context, Japan has been actively supporting the IAEA's activities in the technical and financial aspects, for example, through its technical cooperation based on the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development, and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (RCA) and with its contribution to the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI). Examples of support projects facilitated by Japan's contributions to the PUI include cancer control projects, projects to address the food issue, and projects to address the marine plastic waste issue. In November, the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme, pertaining to the use of nuclear science and technology and IAEA's technical cooperation activities in this field, was held for the first time in six years in Vienna. State Minister for Foreign Affairs MIYAJI Takuma attended the conference on behalf of Japan. In addition to presenting Japan's initiatives, he expressed the hope that this Ministerial Conference would provide greater impetus to promoting the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.

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• (31) According to the IAEA, 415 nuclear reactors are in operation worldwide and 63 reactors are under construction (IAEA website; as of November2024).
• (32) “3S” is used to refer to the IAEA's efforts toward nuclear safety, nuclear security, and nuclear safeguards, which are typical measures for non-proliferation.

B Bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

Bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements are concluded to establish a legal framework required for ensuring a legal assurance from the recipient country on nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear-related material and equipment that are transferred between the two countries, so as to realize cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between them. Under such bilateral agreements, cooperation in areas such as the improvement of nuclear safety can be promoted. Japan makes its decision on whether or not to conclude a nuclear cooperation agreement framework with another country taking into account a wide range of factors such as non-proliferation efforts and nuclear energy policy of its partner country, and its trust in and expectations toward Japan, as well as the bilateral relationship between the two countries among others. As of December, Japan has concluded bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements with 14 countries and one organization, which in order of entry into force of the agreement are: Canada, France, Australia, China, the U.S., the UK, the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), Kazakhstan, the ROK, Viet Nam, Jordan, Russia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and India.

C Decommissioning of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and Handling of ALPS Treated Water

The work of decommissioning, contaminated water management, decontamination and environmental remediation at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is challenging. However, Japan is making steady progress in these areas by leveraging the collective technologies and knowledge of the world, and in close cooperation with the IAEA, the expert organization in the field of nuclear energy. In April 2021, the Government of Japan announced its basic policy on the handling of ALPS treated water, and in July of the same year, signed the Terms of Reference (TOR) on Reviews of Safety Aspects of Handling ALPS treated water at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station with the IAEA. Based on this TOR, the IAEA Task Force consisting of the IAEA officials and international experts selected by the IAEA has conducted third-party reviews on the Government of Japan and TEPCO in safety and regulatory aspects.

On July 4, 2023, IAEA Director General Grossi visited Japan and handed to Prime Minister Kishida the Comprehensive Report compiled by the IAEA, summarizing these reviews conducted based on the TOR. The report concluded that (a) the approach to the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, and the associated activities, are consistent with relevant international safety standards, (b) that the discharge of the ALPS treated water will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment, and (c) indicated the IAEA's plans to continue implementing additional reviews and monitoring during and after the discharge.

After the Inter-Ministerial Council for Contaminated Water, Treated Water and Decommissioning Issues and the Inter-Ministerial Council for Steady Implementation of the Basic Policy on Handling ALPS Treated Water were held on August 22, 2023, the discharge of ALPS treated water commenced on August 24 the same year. ALPS treated water is being discharged as planned, and safety has been confirmed based on the monitoring results to date.

After the start of the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, the IAEA conducted three safety review missions in October 2023 and April and December 2024. In the published reports on the First and Second Review Missions conducted after the start of the discharge into the sea, the IAEA also reaffirmed the fundamental conclusions of the safety review as outlined in the Comprehensive Report dated July 4, 2023.

In the light of the interest of the concerned countries, Japan and the IAEA concurred in conducting additional measures under the IAEA's framework on September 20. On the same day, the two countries announced a “Shared Recognition between Japan and China” regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and China's import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products, which mentioned that after conducting additional measures under the framework of the IAEA, the Chinese government will initiate adjustment of its import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products, and will steadily restore imports of Japanese aquatic products. As a part of additional measures, seawater sampling was carried out on October 15 by the experts from the participating countries (China, the ROK and Switzerland) under the IAEA's framework.

In order to make progress in the decommissioning works and in recovery with the support and correct understanding of the international community, the Government of Japan periodically releases comprehensive reports through the IAEA that cover matters such as progress in decommissioning and contaminated water management at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, results of the monitoring of air dose rate and seawater radioactivity concentration, and food safety. In addition, Japan submits reports on the current situation to the relevant organizations, including Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo and to the IAEA. Furthermore, Japan has organized more than 100 briefing sessions to the Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo since the nuclear power station accident and provided and disseminated information through Japanese diplomatic missions overseas or through social media and other means.

Regarding the safety of discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, the Government of Japan continues to provide information sincerely to the international community in a highly transparent manner, based on scientific evidence, and to respond appropriately to claims that may encourage reputational damage.

(4) Biological and Chemical Weapons

A Biological Weapons

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)⁽³³⁾ is the only multilateral legal framework comprehensively prohibiting the development, production and possession of biological weapons. However, how to reinforce the Convention is a challenge as there are neither provisions on measures to verify compliance with the BWC nor an implementing organization for the Convention.

Since 2006, decisions have been made to establish the Implementation Support Unit (fulfilling the functions of a secretariat) and to hold intersessional meetings twice a year in between the Review Conferences held every five years. During this time, progress has been made with respect to initiatives aimed at strengthening the BWC regime.

At the 9th Review Conference of the BWC held in 2022, it was decided that a working group open to all States Parties would be established, with a view to strengthening all aspects of the implementation of the BWC. The working group started meeting from 2023, and States Parties are discussing measures on international cooperation, the scientific and technological developments, and compliance and verification relevant to the BWC.

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• (33) Entered into force in March 1975. As of December 2024, 187 countries or regions are parties to the BWC.

B Chemical Weapons

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)⁽³⁴⁾ comprehensively prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, and stipulates that all chemical weapons stockpiles must be destroyed. Compliance is ensured through a verification system consisting of declarations and inspections, making this Convention a groundbreaking international agreement on the disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The implementing body of the CWC is the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is based in The Hague, the Netherlands. Along with the UN, the OPCW has played a key role in the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons. Its extensive efforts toward the realization of a world free of chemical weapons were highly acclaimed, and the Organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.

Japan, which has a highly developed chemicals industry and numerous chemicals factories, accepts numerous OPCW inspections.

Japan also actively cooperates with the OPCW in many other concrete ways. In March, Japan contributed about 26 million Japanese yen to the OPCW to contribute to chemical weapon protection and assistance in Ukraine. This fund will be used to provide Ukraine with chemical identification analyzers through the OPCW. In addition, Japan is engaged in efforts to increase the number of States Parties, as well as to enhance the effectiveness of the CWC by strengthening the national implementation measures of the CWC by States Parties.

Moreover, under the CWC, Japan aims to complete, as soon as possible, the destruction of chemical weapons of the former Japanese Army abandoned in Chinese territory by working in cooperation with China.

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• (34) Entered into force in April 1997. As of December 2024, 193 countries or regions are parties to the CWC.

(5) Conventional Weapons

Conventional weapons generally refer to arms other than weapons of mass destruction and include a wide variety of weapons ranging from landmines, tanks, and artillery to small arms and light weapons such as handguns. The problem of conventional weapons, which are used widely in actual wars and cause injury and death to civilians, is serious in light of both national security and humanitarian concerns. The disarmament agenda presented in 2018 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres categorizes disarmament of conventional weapons as one of the three pillars, “Disarmament that Saves Lives.” Japan continues to make active efforts through international cooperation and support toward matters concerning conventional weapons, and participates in discussions at the relevant conferences.

A Small Arms and Light Weapons

Described as “the real weapons of mass destruction” due to the many human lives they take, small arms and light weapons continue to proliferate due to the ease with which they can be obtained and used. They contribute to conflict prolongation and escalation, hindering the restoration of public security and post-conflict reconstruction and development. Since 2001, Japan has been working with other countries to submit a resolution on the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons to the UN General Assembly, and the resolution has been adopted every year. In areas around the world, Japan has also provided support for projects to address the issue of small arms and light weapons, including training and the collection and destruction of weapons. In 2019, Japan contributed 2 million U.S. dollars to a funding facility established under UN Secretary-General Guterres' Agenda for Disarmament to address the issue of small arms and light weapons, and projects to support countries affected by illicit small arms and light weapons are implemented through this funding facility.

B The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)⁽³⁵⁾

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which seeks to establish common standards to regulate international trade and prevent the illicit transfer of arms, entered into force in December 2014. As one of the original co-authors of the UN General Assembly resolution that initiated a consideration of the Treaty, Japan has taken the lead in discussions and negotiations in the UN and contributed significantly to the establishment of the Treaty. Moreover, after the Treaty entered into force, Japan has continued to contribute actively in ways such as hosting the Fourth Conference of States Parties to the ATT in Tokyo as the first Presidency elected from the Asia-Pacific region in August 2018. At the Tenth Conference of State Parties to the ATT (held in August) marking the 10th anniversary since the ATT entered into force, a Political Declaration affirming the importance of the ATT was issued. Japan served as the chair of the Working Group on Transparency and Reporting (WGTR) at the Conference, contributing proactively to promoting the implementation of the ATT.

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• (35) As of December 2024, there are 116 states and regions that are parties to the ATT. Japan signed the Treaty on the date it was opened for signing and deposited its instrument of acceptance in May 2014.

C Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, CCW)⁽³⁶⁾

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) prohibits or restricts the use of conventional weapons that are deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects. It comprises a framework convention that sets forth procedural and other matters, as well as five annexed protocols that regulate individual conventional arms. The framework convention entered into force in 1983. Japan has ratified the framework convention and annexed Protocols I to IV, including the amended Protocol II. Prompted by concerns in the international community about the rapidly advancing military applications of science and technology, meetings of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) have been held under the CCW framework since 2017, and 11 guiding principles on LAWS were formulated in 2019. Japan has continued to contribute actively and constructively to such discussions on international rule-making. In March 2023, Japan submitted the “Draft articles on autonomous weapon systems – prohibitions and other regulatory measures on the basis of international humanitarian law” to the GGE, with the U.S., the UK, Australia, Canada, and the ROK. At the GGE meeting convened in March 2023, a report incorporating the prohibition of weapons systems that cannot adhere to international humanitarian laws and the restriction of other weapons systems, was adopted unanimously. Furthermore, in light of the UN General Assembly resolution on LAWS, a working paper summarizing Japan's views on LAWS was submitted in May 2024 for the purpose of contributing to the preparation of the Report of the Secretary-General and discussions within the GGE.

Against the backdrop of increasingly active international discussions on the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), on the military domain, the second summit of Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) was held in the ROK in September.

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• (36) As of December 2024, 128 countries and regions are parties to the CCW.

D Anti-Personnel Mines

Since the conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention)⁽³⁷⁾ in 1998, Japan has continued to promote comprehensive measures under the Convention, including the effective prohibition of anti-personnel mines and strengthening of support for mine-affected countries. Along with calling on countries in the Asia-Pacific region to ratify or accede to the Convention, Japan has also been steadily engaged in international cooperation through landmine clearance, victim assistance and other activities in the international community, from the viewpoint of the “Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus.”

The Fifth Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, in November, was attended by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ERI Arfiya. In her statement, she reflected on Japan's initiatives and achievements to date in supporting mine action, and in light that Japan will preside over the 22nd Meeting of States Parties in 2025, declared that it will continue to work toward the steadfast implementation and universalization of the Ottawa Convention.

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• (37) The Convention, which entered into force in 1999, bans the use and production of anti-personnel mines while mandating the destruction of stockpiled mines and the clearance of buried mines. As of December 2024, there are 164 states and regions that are parties to the Convention, including Japan.

E Cluster Munitions⁽³⁸⁾

The international community takes seriously the humanitarian consequences brought about by cluster munitions. Japan is therefore taking steps to address this issue via victim assistance and unexploded ordnance clearance.⁽³⁹⁾ Japan is also continuing its efforts to increase the number of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).⁽⁴⁰⁾ At the 12th Meeting of States Parties to the CCM held in September, Japan participated in discussions concerning these issues and shared its proactive efforts.

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• (38) Generally speaking, it refers to bombs or shells in the form of large containers that open midair and release submunitions that spread over a wide area. They are said to be highly likely to not explode on impact, leading to the problem of civilians being accidentally killed or injured.
• (39) See the White Paper on Development Cooperation for specific efforts on international cooperation regarding cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines.
• (40) Entered into force in August 2010, it prohibits the use, possession, or production of cluster munitions, while mandating the clearance of cluster munitions in contaminated areas and the destruction of stockpiled cluster munitions. There are 111 states and regions that are parties to the Convention, including Japan (as of December 2024)