Japan Possesses Near-Complete Nuclear Weapons Capability, PLA Daily Reports
A recent article in the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of China's Central Military Commission, has disclosed that Japan possesses nearly all the material and technical conditions needed to manufacture nuclear weapons, raising significant geopolitical concerns.
Key Claims
- Plutonium Stockpile: Japan has stockpiled approximately 44.4 tons of separated plutonium as of late 2024, sufficient to manufacture roughly 5,500 nuclear warheads
- Technical Capability: Japan is the world's only non-nuclear state with a complete nuclear fuel cycle system
- Rapid Breakout Potential: International arms control experts describe Japan's path to nuclear weapons as requiring "nothing more than turning a few screws"
Japan's Military Industrial Expansion
The article also highlighted Japan's 2023 establishment of the "Government Security Capability Enhancement Support" mechanism — its first post-war framework for directly providing military equipment to other nations. The PLA Daily characterized this as having "ulterior motives," suggesting Japan aims to eventually export lethal weapons.
The article identified Japan's "Keidanren" (Japan Business Federation) as a key behind-the-scenes driver of military industrial expansion, pushing for revisions to Japan's principles on defense equipment transfers.
Strategic Implications
If Japan were to abandon its "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" (not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons), it could become a de facto nuclear-armed state in a very short time. This development adds a new dimension to the already complex security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: PLA Daily, Zhihu