A New Stage of Denuclearization after TPNW adoption under NPT Regime:
Bridge-building between Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) and Non-Nuclear
Weapon States (N-NWS) plus NGOs: Recommendation by Eminent Persons
Group (EPG) of the Japanese Government
RECNA Visiting Professor, EPG Member
Masao Tomonaga M.D.
Deterioration of international security environment
And a divide on approaches towards a world without nuclear weapons between
NWS and N-NWS plus NGOs are now serious. After TPNW adoption Japan’s Former
Foreign Minister Kishida announced at the 1st NPT PrepCom that Japan would notjoin the treaty because of her nuclear deterrence policy under US-Japan Security
Treaty. Nevertheless, he established Eminent Persons Group (EPG) asking torecommend bridge-building policies between NWS and N-NWS plus NGOs for
substantive advancement of nuclear disarmament.
Emblem of Recommendation
16 (10 from abroad) members of EPG met twice and handed it to new FM Kohno
on March 29. Its emblem is that the common goal of all NPT member states isnuclear weapon-free world in line with Article VI. Unfortunately under the present
NPT regime nuclear disarmament process is sluggish along with nuclear proliferation.
There is “International Norm” not to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance. Thisnorm must be maintained. EPG considers that civility in discourse and respect fordivergent views are essential to work together under NPT.
NPT still plays a central role
All previous NPT commitments on nuclear abolition are important to be realized;
CTBT to be ratified completely/ full compliance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction (JCPOA) on Iran/ start negotiation on Middle East Zone free of Nuclear
Weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction/ Russia-US nuclear arms control
framework as a fundamental basis for the global nuclear arms reduction/ EPG urges
Russia and United States to secure further reductions and extend New START for 5years/ to avoid catastrophic consequences from the North Korean nuclear-missile
crisis by all stakeholder through peaceful means as the present negotiation shows.
Proposed Bridge-building actions
1. Enhancing the implementation of the NPT review process: Most importantly NWS
must report their nuclear disarmament plans to ensure the transparency and start
dialogue between NWS and N-NWS and Civil Society.

2. Confidence-building measure as a foundation of bridge-building: reduction of therole of nuclear weapons in national security policies/ UN Security Council Resolution(984) to strengthen negative security assurance for non-nuclear weapon states andstates parties to NWFZ treaties.
3. Preparing the ground for convergence of different approaches: a lack ofconsensus

oncommonunderstandingon

verification

andenforcement/

intensification of verification and compliance mechanisms/ stock problem of nuclear
fissile materials/ promotion of Cut-Off Treaty negotiation.
4. There remains hard questions: Although nuclear deterrence may arguably
enhance stability in certain environment, it is a dangerous long-term basis for global
security, therefore all nations must seek a better long-term solution/ What is
minimization point for total denuclearization/ Addressing the right of self-defense
under extreme circumstances of national survival envisage the possibility of limited
threat of use or use of nuclear weapons, mindful of international humanitarian low/Solutions for ultimate dilemma of how to guarantee of all states by ensuring
obligation under NPT regime, including timely enforcement when compliance fails.
As shown above there are various common steps to practice under two treaties.
FM Kohno spoke on this Recommendation in Geneva at the 2nd NPT Prep-Com.
Japan may proceed along with this recommendation. When the convergence
between NPT and TPNW will be successful, we may be closer to nuclear-free world.