Japan

Intelligence for Better Decision Making

Japan Reconsiders Ban on Nuclear Weapons Entry Amid Security Concerns

Nov. 17, 2025 | Geopolitics & Defense

Japan is debating a potential revision to its prohibition on introducing nuclear weapons as it balances security concerns with its post-war non-nuclear stance.

**Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has launched internal discussions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party about amending the third pillar of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which bars the introduction of nuclear arms into Japanese territory.**
Established in 1967 by Prime Minister Eisaku Satō, these principles commit Japan to neither possessing nor manufacturing nuclear weapons and to refusing their entry, reflecting its pacifist identity and history as the only nation to suffer atomic bombings.

**News of the proposal drew fierce criticism from atomic bomb survivors and nuclear abolition advocates.**
Satoshi Tanaka, head of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, along with survivor leaders Koichi Kawano and Yasujiro Tanaka, condemned any alteration as a betrayal of the nation’s experience, arguing that revisiting the ban would negate the suffering of earlier generations and hinder global disarmament efforts.

**Peace activists in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and civic groups warned that weakening the entry ban could inflame regional tensions by undermining Japan’s credibility in arms control diplomacy.**
Organizations such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons expressed concern that this shift might signal a broader move toward remilitarization and erode public confidence in Japan’s commitment to its non-nuclear identity.

**Local initiatives like the Non-Nuclear Kobe Approach, which requires foreign warships to certify they carry no nuclear weapons, have also come under pressure.**
Activists argue that allowing nuclear-armed vessels—especially after a US destroyer docked at Kobe Port without the required certificate—would amount to yielding to allied demands, notably from the United States. These groups are intensifying advocacy to preserve existing measures and honor atomic bomb survivors.

**Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party and former prime minister, urged Takaichi to reaffirm all three non-nuclear principles during a speech on the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.**
He described any reconsideration of the introduction ban as a major departure from long-standing policy and pledged to challenge the government’s stance in upcoming Diet debates, citing Japan’s historical role in advancing nuclear disarmament.

**The debate unfolds as Japan seeks to strengthen its defense posture amid perceived threats from neighboring nuclear powers—China, North Korea, and Russia.**
While officials consider adjusting the non-nuclear policy, they continue to rely on the US nuclear umbrella, navigating a complex balance between security imperatives and symbolic non-nuclear commitments.

China Issues Travel Warning for Japan Amid Taiwan-Related Diplomatic Tensions

Nov. 17, 2025 | Geopolitics & Defense

Beijing has urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raised the prospect of Japanese involvement in a Taiwan contingency.

**China’s Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory arguing that Takaichi’s remarks had severely damaged the atmosphere surrounding people-to-people exchanges and posed significant safety risks for Chinese nationals.**
The advisory cited a perceived decline in public safety and an increased risk of crime as justification for warning against visits to Japan.

**In response to the advisory, Japan lodged a formal protest.**
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara demanded that China withdraw the notice and take appropriate measures, and Japan also objected to a social media post by a Chinese diplomat it deemed inflammatory. Meanwhile, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong summoned Japanese Ambassador Kenji Kanasugi to register a formal diplomatic protest and insisted that Takaichi retract her statements.

**Retail and tourism representatives in Japan have voiced concern over the advisory’s potential economic impact.**
From January to September 2025, Chinese visitors accounted for approximately 7.49 million of the 31.65 million foreign tourists to Japan. Major department stores such as Takashimaya anticipate a drop in Chinese customer visits despite growth from other Asian markets and a trend toward repeat individual travelers, warning that their performance could suffer.

**Leaders in the hotel and aviation industries have expressed cautious optimism that the diplomatic tensions will not cause major operational disruptions, while emphasizing their reliance on stable cross-border travel.**
International airlines noted that they cannot intervene in political matters but stressed the importance of a predictable environment for their operations.

**The advisory reflects the broader geopolitical dispute over Taiwan.**
Takaichi had warned that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival and might prompt Japan to exercise collective self-defense rights alongside the United States. China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province to be unified by force if necessary, has demanded a retraction of Takaichi’s remarks, viewing them as an escalation of bilateral tensions.

**Despite these strains, Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed last month in South Korea to promote strategic and mutually beneficial ties.**
Taiwan’s government condemned China’s travel advisory as a multifaceted political threat aimed at Japan. Observers say the advisory may amount to economic coercion and could cloud prospects for future Japan–China dialogue, including discussions at the upcoming G20 meeting.

Monitored Intelligence for Japan - Nov. 17, 2025

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Nidec Posts 82 Pct Profit Drop on Automotive Biz Losses

Nippon | English | News | Nov. 17, 2025 | UndeterminedOperating Results

Nidec Corp. reported an 82.5% decline in consolidated operating profit to 21.1 billion yen for the six months ending in September, primarily due to significant losses in its automotive products business. Net profit also fell 58.6% to 31.2 billion yen. The company did not provide full-year forecasts.

During the first half of fiscal 2025, Nidec set aside 36.4 billion yen as provisions for potential losses linked to customer contracts, revising downward its projections for motor control components used in electric vehicles. Additionally, the company recorded impairment losses of 31.6 billion yen on nonfinancial assets.

Despite these setbacks, Nidec achieved record sales of 1,302.3 billion yen, supported by strong demand for motors used in hard disk drives and other devices. The company is currently under investigation by a third-party panel concerning irregularities such as trade-related issues at an Italian subsidiary and improper accounting practices at a Chinese unit.

Survey: 70% of bridges holding water pipes at risk in quakes

Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | Nov. 17, 2025 | Critical Infrastructure Failure

A Board of Audit of Japan investigation found that up to 70% of bridges with water or sewerage pipes attached to their girders may not be earthquake-resistant enough to withstand strong quakes. Many of these pipes serve critical facilities such as medical institutions and evacuation shelters, putting them at risk of losing water supply during disasters. These pipes are typically installed across rivers by securing them to bridge girders with metal fittings.

The survey, conducted on 74 bridges with water pipe construction contracts between fiscal 2022 and 2023 involving 41 local governments, uncovered significant issues at 43 sites where bridge designs relied on outdated seismic standards or the bridge ages were unknown. At eight locations, authorities were aware of the seismic risks but prioritized early pipe installation. Emergency backup measures like water trucks were lacking at 51 problematic locations across 28 municipalities. Sixteen of these bridges supported water lines connected to vital facilities such as hospitals and filtration plants.

Following a major earthquake in the Noto Peninsula on January 1, 2024, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducted inspections focusing on the water pipes and related facilities but did not assess the seismic resilience of the bridges themselves. The ministry has since notified local governments to evaluate the earthquake resistance of the bridges and consider rerouting the water pipes to enhance safety.

日本政府関係者「今が分かれ道」対話呼びかけるも緊張緩和に苦慮

Japanese Government Official Says Now Is a Crossroads, Calls for Dialogue but Struggles to Ease Tensions

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Nov. 17, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent statements in the Diet have triggered a strong backlash from China, which demands a retraction that the Japanese government refuses to make. Japan acknowledges the risks of potential retaliatory actions from China, including economic measures such as rare earth export restrictions, and is urging dialogue at the leadership level to reduce tensions. However, overcoming these diplomatic challenges remains difficult.

Takaichi clarified that her comments about a Taiwan contingency constituting a “situation in which the nation’s survival is threatened” were based on a worst-case scenario and do not signal a shift in government policy. Japanese officials emphasize that the prime minister is carefully explaining the stance and maintain that there is no issue with her remarks.

Despite Japan’s cautious approach, China’s response has been unexpectedly severe, extending to discouragement of travel to Japan. Japanese officials describe the situation as a critical juncture, warning that further escalation could lead to economic retaliation. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stressed the importance of continued communication given the differing positions.

Japan is attempting to arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the upcoming G20 summit to ease tensions, but as of now, no concrete plans or outcomes have been confirmed. The Japanese government remains vigilant about the situation’s potential to deteriorate further.

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