Perspectives

Japan’s contribution to the CTBT By Ambassador Yukiya Amano

Following World War II, Japan made nuclear non-proliferation, and the defi ning the technology required to detect disarmament and non-proliferation one peaceful use of nuclear energy. Given underground nuclear testing. of the major items on its foreign policy the symbolic signifi cance of the CTBT agenda. The Comprehensive Nuclear- for nuclear disarmament in general, the When fi nally in 1993 countries Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in particular has wider the support for it is, the greater the agreed to start negotiations, Yoshitomo a special signifi cance for Japan and the confi dence in the NPT, thereby leading to Tanaka, Ambassador of Japan to the Japanese people, and it is the fervent wish a strengthening of international security. Conference on Disarmament, chaired the of the Japanese to see its entry into force. Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear Test Ban This sentiment derives from reactions to Japan has consistently made it and played an important part in working the tragedies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki a priority to support the conclusion to reach an agreement on its mandate. in 1945, as well as an incident involving the exposure of a I, personally, Japanese fi shing boat and its participated in negotiations crew to radioactive fallout “Japan has consistently made from 1994 to 1997 while from a U.S. hydrogen bomb fulfi lling my assignment at test at Bikini Atoll in 1954. it a priority to support the the Delegation of Japan to the conclusion and entry into Conference on Disarmament CTBT and Japan in Geneva. Japan opposed force of the CTBT because the authorisation of low yield Japan’s support of the of its importance to Japan tests and nuclear explosions CTBT also stems from its for peaceful purposes and consideration for ensuring and the world as a whole.” this was refl ected in the national security. Northeast fi nal version of the Treaty. Asia is one of the most unstable regions in the world. Japan itself and entry into force of the CTBT Dr. Suyehiro also played an is surrounded by countries with nuclear because of its importance to Japan important role in the development of the weapons, namely, China, Russia and and the world as a whole. When Japan IMS network. the USA; and, last year, the Democratic joined the United Nations (UN) in People’s Republic of Korea publicly 1956, the Foreign Minister, Mamoru What I regret most to this day announced its possession of nuclear Shigemitsu, called for the early are the specifi c conditions set forth in weapons. It should be stressed that any conclusion of the CTBT in his fi rst the Treaty’s ‘entry into force’ clause. form of nuclear testing conducted by a speech made to the General Assembly. Japan proposed a simple majority of country would severely damage efforts to ratifi cations and was opposed to Article deter nuclear testing in general, thereby CTBT negotiations XIV as it stands today. At the fi nal stage undermining security. of negotiations, the late Foreign Minister, When negotiations for the Treaty did Yukihiko Ikeda, came to Geneva in an The CTBT is also important not start due to a lack of support from attempt to persuade countries to relax for international security. The Treaty major countries, the late Dr Shigeji the conditions required for entry into on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Suyehiro, Director-General of the force of the Treaty, but the present Weapons (NPT) is the central pillar of Japan Meteorological Agency, played formula was ultimately preserved. the nuclear non-proliferation regime a key role in the work of the Group of and one of the important cornerstones Scientifi c Experts, which was formed in Japan’s contribution underpinning global security. For it to 1976 to prepare the ground for CTBT to the CTBT function successfully, confi dence needs negotiations. As a country located in to be maintained and strengthened in an earthquake-prone zone, Japan’s Japan’s contribution to the CTBT since its three pillars: nuclear disarmament, knowledge and experience were useful in it was adopted by the UN General

PAGE 10 CTBTO SPECTRUM 8 | WWW.CTBTO.ORG Assembly in 1996 can be divided into technical, and political contributions ratifi cation by as many countries as three areas: the Preparatory Commission’s to the CTBT. However, the good news possible and work for the early completion activities, the promotion of the entry is that many highly qualifi ed Japanese of the CTBT verifi cation regime. ■ into force of the Treaty, and civil and are currently applying for posts in the scientifi c application. Ever since the PTS and I feel sure they will join the Preparatory Commission was established Organization in the near future and Biographical note in November 1996, Japan has contributed make a valuable contribution to the about 20% of its total annual budget, CTBTO Preparatory Commission. and we are now the de facto largest Mr Yukiya Amano contributor to the Commission. Importance of the CTBT is Ambassador and its entry into force Extraordinary As part of our efforts to support the and Plenipoten- build-up of the verifi cation regime, Japan Looking ahead, there seems little prospect tiary and Resident has been offering training courses on of the CTBT coming into force in the Representative seismological observation to experts from near future, bearing in mind the strict of Japan to the developing countries since 1995. In 2003, conditions set forth in the Treaty. In fact, International Japan hosted the Ninth On-Site Inspection ten of the 44 countries required to ratify Organizations Workshop in Hiroshima. before the Treaty can come into force in Vienna. He have still not done so. Nevertheless, as of is currently the We have chaired, and actively 17 July 2006, 176 countries have signed chairperson of the Board of Governors of participated in, Article XIV Conferences and 134 have ratifi ed. This fact carries a the International Atomic Energy Agency. and have co-organized CTBT Ministerial politically and morally signifi cant weight. meetings in order to promote the early Furthermore, 60% of IMS stations are now Mr Amano joined the diplomatic entry into force of the Treaty. In addition, transmitting data to the IDC allowing us service in 1972 and has held we have used every opportunity in our to detect nuclear tests with a considerably increasingly senior positions, including bilateral consultations with countries high degree of certainty. All of these Director of the Science Division, concerned to encourage ratifi cation. factors considered, conducting nuclear Director of the Nuclear Energy tests has now become politically and Division, and Director-General of the Japan is an active supporter of the morally very diffi cult despite the fact that Disarmament, Non-proliferation and use of CTBT verifi cation technologies, the CTBT has as yet not come into force. Science Department. He has also held including the provision of IMS academic posts at the Japan Institute of seismic data for use in tsunami early It is regrettable that India and International Affairs, the Weatherhead warning systems. Although civil and Pakistan conducted eleven nuclear tests Center for International Affairs at scientifi c applications are not one of in 1998, but since then no further tests Harvard University, the Monterey the Treaty’s prime objectives, it would have been carried out. The fi ve nuclear Institute of International Studies, and be excellent if CTBT technologies powers as well as India and Pakistan have Sophia University. could be used to save lives, thanks to all declared a moratorium on nuclear the fl exibility of Member States. testing. This is a clear indication of Mr Amano participated in negotia- progress brought about by the CTBT, tions such as the NPT Review and Exten- On a separate issue, it is surprising especially when one considers that sion, the CTBT, the BTWC verifi cation to note that there are only four more than 2,000 tests were conducted protocol, and the amendment of CCW. Japanese staff members working for before the adoption of the Treaty. He represented Japan as a Govern- the Provisional Technical Secretariat mental Expert on the UN Panel on (PTS), 2.29% of the total staff. This In conclusion, what we, as supporters Missiles in 2001 and in the UN Expert extremely low percentage is unfortunate of the CTBT, can and should do for the Group on Disarmament and Non-prolif- in view of Japan’s considerable fi nancial, moment is to encourage signature and eration Education in the same year. ■

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