According to a couple of sources, including the Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun, the latest issue of Newsweek is reporting that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s aides recently told the Chinese that if North Korea has nukes, Japan could follow.
Well, that’s laying down the law, although for greater dramatic effect Cheney’s people should have mentioned Taiwan.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the actual Newsweek piece, so a link would be appreciated if you find it.
Also interesting is that the policy committee chief of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party is calling for debate on whether Tokyo should possess nuclear weapons, although he made it clear that he himself didn’t believe Japan should.
3 Comments
“For Washington, the greatest hope against Kim lies with China, which controls some 70 percent of the North’s fuel supplies. U.S. officials hope that Chinese President Hu Jintao will decide he’s finally had enough of his out-of-control former junior partner. Officials close to Vice President Dick Cheney are warning their Chinese counterparts that Japan could be forced to join the Nuclear Club. They are also warning that North Korea may threaten the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The fear? That Kim might resort to terror to make a point. As precedent, they cite the 1987 Korean Air disaster.”
- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15.....ek/page/9/
yes, the asian nuclear arms race may be beginning. imho, japan has no option but to begin debate and start moving towards going nuclear. lots of hoops and hurdles, but i’ll bet they can get it done if the dprk pushes just hard enough.
interesting article covering a bit of this issue.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/8757/
I say have one on one talks with North Korea. Tell them that they can keep their nukes but any additional nukes will be sent to Taiwan. Kick back and watch China go ape.