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Japan's Recent Efforts to Promote the Early Entry into Force of the CTBT

August 2003

Japan believes that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an important pillar of the international regime for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. In this context, Japan has been effectively calling on all States that have not yet signed and ratified the CTBT to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible, and vigorously working on to build the verification regime of the CTBT, with a view to its early entry into force. The following is a summary of Japan's recent efforts in this regard.

I. Calling on Countries to Sign and Ratify the CTBT

1. Bilateral Occasions

  • In the following bilateral contacts, Japan called on Vietnam, the United States, China, and Iran, whose ratification is required for the Treaty to enter into force, to ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity.
    • Vietnam: Japan-Vietnam Summit Meeting (October 3), Japan-Vietnam Foreign Ministers' Meeting (October 4)
    • United States: Fourth Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Commission on Arms Control, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Verification (August 26)
    • China: Japan-China Deputy Foreign Minister Level Consultations (August 9), Japan-China Consultations on Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation (September 24)
    • Iran: Japan-Iran Vice-Minister Level Consultations (September 27), luncheon meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and First Deputy Speaker of the Majles (Iranian Parliament) Seyyed Mohammad-Reza Khatami (October 10)

2. Multilateral Forums

  • At the Japan-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on the countries of ASEAN to ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity. (August 1)
  • On the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly, Japan, Australia, and the Netherlands held a "Friends of the CTBT" Foreign Ministers' Meeting and issued a Joint Ministerial Statement requesting all countries to sign and ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity. (September 14)
  • Japan's resolution on nuclear disarmament that clearly states the importance of the early entry into force of the CTBT was once again adopted by an overwhelming majority at the First Committee of the 57th U.N. General Assembly this year. (October 23)

Related Information (Adoption of the Draft Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament at the UN General Assembly (November 22, 2002))

3. Building a Domestic Verification Regime

  • Construction of domestic monitoring and observation stations under the International Monitoring System:
    • Start of construction of a radionuclide monitoring station at Takasaki
    • Final stage of contractual arrangements for the construction of a primary network of seismological monitoring station at Matsushiro; construction is scheduled to begin in 2002
    • Field study of the proposed site of an infrasound monitoring station at Tsukuba with a view to concluding the construction contract early next year
  • Setting up a secretariat for CTBT domestic operating regime (securing personnel and forging a network of Cooperating National Facilities)

II. Japan's Major Efforts to Promote the Entry into Force of the CTBT (Chronology)

August 2002

  • At the Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Brunei, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called for the early ratification of the CTBT by the members of ASEAN.
  • At the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima other site and Nagasaki other site, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the government would continue making approaches to governments around the world calling on them to ensure the early entry into force of the CTBT.
  • At Japan-China Deputy Foreign Minister Level Consultations in Tokyo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Takano requested to Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi that China ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity.
  • At the Fourth Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Commission on Arms Control, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Verification in Tokyo, Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Yukiya Amano appealed to U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton, Japan's stance of pressing for the early entry into force of the CTBT and strongly requested that the United States maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests.

September 2002

  • At the U.N. General Assembly, Prime Minister Koizumi declared his intention to reinforce Japan's efforts toward the early entry into force of the CTBT.
  • Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, together with the foreign ministers of Australia and the Netherlands, hosted a "Friends of the CTBT" Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the U.N. Headquarters in New York and issued a joint statement requesting countries around the world to sign and ratify the CTBT at the earliest possible opportunity.
  • At Japan-China Consultations on Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation in Tokyo, Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Amano requested to Director General Liu Jieyi of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament that China ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity and maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests.
  • At a Japan-Iran Vice-Minister Level meeting in Tokyo, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takano requested to Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh that Iran ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity.

October 2002

  • At the Japan-Vietnam Summit in Tokyo, Prime Minister Koizumi called on General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh to ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity.
  • At the Japan-Vietnam Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on Vietnamese Minister for Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien to ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity.
  • Foreign Minister Kawaguchi requested to First Deputy Speaker of the Majles Seyyed Mohammad-Reza Khatami that Iran ratify the CTBT at the earliest opportunity.
  • Japan once again submitted a resolution on nuclear disarmament that clearly called for the early entry into force of the CTBT to this year's U.N. General Assembly, and the resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority at the First Committee.

January 2003

  • At a Japan-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on Indian Foreign Minister Sinha to sign the CTBT.
  • At the Fifth Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Commission on Arms Control, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Verification in Tokyo, Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Yukiya Amano appealed to U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton, Japan's stance of pressing for the early entry into force of the CTBT and strongly requested that the United States maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests.

February 2003

  • At a Japan-India Vice-Minister Level Meeting in New Delhi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Tanaka called on Indian Foreign Secretary Sibal to sign the CTBT.

March 2003

  • At the Foreign Affairs-National Defense Inter-Governmental Dialogue between Japan and Vietnam held in Hanoi, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Atsumi called on Vietnamese Director General First Asian Department Ho Xuan Son to ratify the CTBT.
  • At a Japan-Pakistan Vice-Minister Level meeting in Islamabad, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Tanaka called on Pakistani Foreign Secretary Khokhal to sign the CTBT.

April 2003

  • At a Japan-Israel Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom to rarify the CTBT.

May 2003

  • At a Japan-Syria Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Damascus, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on Syrian Foreign Minister Shara to ratify the CTBT.
  • Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi visited Israel and called on Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom to ratify the CTBT.

June 2003

  • At the Tenth ARF Ministerial Meeting, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on the CTBT Annex II countries whose ratifications are necessary for the CTBT to enter into force to ratify the treaty.
  • At a Japan-Vietnam Foreign Minister Meeting in Hanoi, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called on Vietnam Foreign Minister Nguyen to ratify the CTBT.

July 2003

  • Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, together with Foreign Ministers of Finland (Chair's Country of the CTBT) and Austria (Host Country of the CTBTO) issued a joint letter and urged early ratification and high level participation at the Conference.

August 2003

  • At the Sixth Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Commission on Arms Control, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Verification in Tokyo, Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Yukiya Amano appealed to U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton, Japan's stance of pressing for the early entry into force of the CTBT and strongly requested that the United States maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests.
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