U.S. defends Japan against China's plutonium criticism

Well, you see, we need the Plutonium due to the topic of a DIFFERENT Japan Today article, named: Japan Concerned About China's Lack of Transparency of Military.

Simply can NOT go two days without the Chinese (or South Korean government) complaining and belly aching about what Japan did or didn't do.

Seriously, folks. This is getting old. And pathetic.

Thank you America. It is nice to see somebody put their head above the parapet for a change and risk the wrath of Beijing. China might have lots of new money, but it still needs to learn some diplomatic manners. Having countries like the US occasionally speak up in support of its allies can only be a good thing.

It's only because the PRC thinks that by whipping up their propaganda of the IJA's past historical aggression will work outside of their own backyard. And they also appear to believe that they're distracting the rest of the world from their current aggression towards the rest of the region besides Japan. Honestly how gullible does the CCP believe the rest of the world is????

Sad, China got no friends ;-) China got a pet though. North Korea.

Japan agrees to return 300 kg of plutonium to the US and China suddenly throws a temper tantrum. Considering the way China has been doling out weapons grade nuclear material, it's China that needs to be stripped of its uranium and plutonium.

"China, a staunch ally of Pakistan's, provided blueprints for the bomb, as well as highly enriched uranium, tritium, scientists and key components for a nuclear weapons production complex, among other crucial tools. 'Without China's help, Pakistan's bomb would not exist' said Gary Milhollin, a leading expert on the spread of nuclear weapons."

Pakistan then helps North Korea on behalf of China.

In June 2002, the CIA delivered a comprehensive analysis of North Korea's nuclear ambitions to President Bush "that Pakistan, one of the Bush Administration's important allies in the war against terrorism, and chief recipient of Chinese nuclear technology, was helping North Korea build the bomb." Pakistan's "A.Q. Khan, is known to have paid at least 13 visits to North Korea."

Simply can NOT go two days without the Chinese (or South Korean government) complaining and belly aching about what Japan did or didn't do. Seriously, folks. This is getting old. And pathetic.

It's a two way street. Japan is doing the same thing

China is becoming a mindless political football in U.S, and Japanese politics.

Why does US want the plutonium back now? I think US is getting more and more out of touch with reality or misunderstanding Japan, being influenced by anti-Japan countries and media.

being influenced by anti-Japan countries and media.

I sincerly doubt this.

Why does US want the plutonium back now? I think US is getting more and more out of touch with reality or misunderstanding Japan, being influenced by anti-Japan countries and media.

No, it has nothing to do with that. It's likely it's one or both of two reasons:

The plutonium was given to Japan with the expectation that it would construct its own nuclear weapons. Given that unlikely probability, the US will use it to make weapons of their own.

During that time of the Cold War, the US wanted all its allies to be nuclear-armed. The new policy is the US maintaining the deterrent all on its own.

IIRC, Japan borrowed the plutonium for an experimental nuclear reactor. Now that the experiment hasn't panned out, the U.S. simply wants it back.

I'm struggling to understand as to why something which was brought has to be returned? If I brought a tv from a shop I wouldn't expect them to ask for it back a few years later.

I'm struggling to understand as to why something which was brought has to be returned? If I brought a tv from a shop I wouldn't expect them to ask for it back a few years later.

It was loaned to Japan but it never ceased being US property. It was expected to be used in a certain way (test Japan's ability to construct nuclear weapons) within a certain timeframe. If the test was successful, the title to the ore likely would have been transferred. In any case, unless you expect Japan to start building nuclear missiles, why does it matter if it's returned or not?

I would say the nuclear materials and technology China freely gave to that hostile nation called North Korea over many decades is much more worrying than a non-hostile democratic country like Japan holding well-documented plutonium. China doesn't know when to shut up.

And....

Russia voiced similar views, [China] said.

...I think Russia can speak for themselves. Now go whine somewhere else.

Simply can NOT go two days without the Chinese (or South Korean government) complaining and belly aching about what Japan did or didn't do. Seriously, folks. This is getting old. And pathetic.

It's a two way street. Japan is doing the same thing

I must have missed the stories every day where Japan has a pop at SK or China.

Slumdog Why?Most English media are anti-Japan such as NYT. Since almost nobody in US read Japanese papers(most of J media are anti-Japan too anyway) where do they get information about Japan from? That's how Japan has always been misunderstood. For instance everybody believes Korea/China than Japan whatever something to do with history.

I would not give Joe Macmanus’s words too much weight. For starter, he is a reflectively low rank diplomate from the US, who has a distinctively close connection with H. Clinton. Further,it’s only natural that the US had to defend Japan when the Russian representative and the Chinese one teamed up to gangbang Japan for their political stockings at the meeting.

However, for people who are not aware: The US has been closely monitoring Japan’s nuclear weapon grade substances through all available means.

He should have told China that and not reporters.

The Chinese are the ones that like to point an accusing finger at someone when they do the same thing as the ones that they accuse of doing...I never take the commies serious...

I would not give Joe Macmanus’s words too much weight.

Unless of course he had taken the commie's side. Then he'd be an important man in your eyes, and you'd be all over the story telling us all how this is further proof of how "isolated" Japan is.

However, for people who are not aware: The US has been closely monitoring Japan’s nuclear weapon grade substances through all available means.

Not half as hard as they are "monitoring" PRC - for people who are apparently not aware.

Of course China would disagree with America... as far as they are concerned Japan are building giant nuclear powered armoured fighting robots and that means China needs to increase its budget to defend against them.

"Not half as hard as they are "monitoring" PRC - for people who are apparently not aware."

Nice try though, I give you some credit for being in Abe’s denial camp. :)

When you gets a chance, please read a article then you would know what the US and its public think about Abe and other nationalists in Japan http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/opinion/mr-abes-dangerous-revisionism.html

Casr in point, The US is monitoring Abe closely in public and private. That is why Abe himself cannot comeout , in public, to prove that he did not say what he has said in private venues, (only Yoshihide Suga made a lame complaint.)

Ask a question, why Abe has been so quiet lately?

WTF... China has 150 nukes in its stockpile and their the ones complaining?!

If terrorists could obtain even a couple of kilograms, even non weapons grade, could be made into a dirty bomb.

Of course, many hospitals have much easier to obtain radioactive material for building a dirty bomb. Or oil/gas drilling companies with their well-logging radioactive sources. Then there are construction companies with soil density gauges and radiography sources. Heck even many smoke detectors (and by extension the facilities that make them) have radioactive material.

Trying to obtain material for a dirty bomb can be done much easier than going after even mildly protected plutonium or spent fuel.

The U.S. will defend whoever is of use to them for their own gains. It will be Japan's greatest mistake to be a willing tool of the U.S. as once useless it is thrown away. But, Shinzo Abe and Japan will never see what is in front of their eyes because they simply don't want to see the truth.

The Chinese would go ballistic if Japan became a nuclear power and I'm sure they think Abe wants to do just that. In fact I think that Japan probably ought to do just that. There is only one defense against China and their lap dog NK and the US isn't it.

Please keep those plutonium, a weapon grade Uranium properly so that Japan can give as a Bomb Gift to US one day!

What China doesn't know or has not understood completely is how the US military is ready for a two front war right now. Not that one is going to occur. We will and can stand by our allies. China is just a loud bully. We and the world see this. Let them complain. We will not turn our backs on Japan and will continue to vouchsafe the island as per our defense treaty.

As long as there are Ultra Nationalists like Mr ABE reminiscing the Imperial glory days, chances of Nuclear Weaponry in Japan is not slim. His agenda to strengthen the Military includes secret plans to acquire the Nuke (someday.)

Japan has to explain it to the world.

Japan has to be transparent, open and guilty free.

As long as there is even only person concerns about it, Japan has to be fair to that person and tell the truth.

Truth doesn't hurt.

zichi Mar. 06, 2014 - 07:17PM JST I don't believe Japan, unlike China, wants to make atomic weapons even if it has the materials and technical know how to do it, but would probably take longer than 10 years to achieve.

Politics change very quickly. From Japan's perspective, the nuclear weapons would be a form of deterrent against China. If Japan develops the weapon, it doesn't matter if China has 3 million troops. There possibility of Japan domestically manufacturing nuclear weapons in a near future and it would take only few years. The Rokkasho reprocessing facility would be able to provide weapons-grade plutonium.

Japan has to explain it to the world.

No they don't.

Japan has to be transparent, open and guilty free.

No they don't.

@sfjp330

See, that is why I am worried and that is why Japan has to explain it to the world in details.

why Japan has to be special to have excessive nuclear materials? why Japan has privilege to keep the secrete? why Japan can violate equilibrium to store much more radioactive materials while others can't?

Japan really has to answer the questions.

@mulan2,

This is the questions that should be asked to China.

why China has to be special to have excessive nuclear materials? why China has privilege to keep the secrete? why China can violate equilibrium to store much more radioactive materials while Japan can't? China really has to answer the questions.

Japan has to explain it to the world.

Japan has to be transparent, open and guilty free.

As long as there is even only person concerns about it, Japan has to be fair to that person and tell the truth.

Truth doesn't hurt.

See, we have this thing in democratic nations called "presumption of innocence." The "burden of proof" is on the PRC to demonstrate that Japan has nefarious plans. Given their own track record on transparency, though, that's likely too tall an order.

@sfjp330 and Steven C. Schulz and Mike O'Brien

China doesn't hide anything, China has atomic bombs, China tells that to the world. Why would other nations have to reveal their nuclear program while Japan can't ? why is Japan so special? Nuclear bomb is not something difficult to make. South Korea can do it, Taiwan can do it, but both said they won't. Nuclear bomb is that not terrible either, only coward is afraid of it. If Japan cares about others, if Japan is truly against atomic bombs, then Japan has responsibility to reveal it. There is reason to be concerned, Japanese politician said they want it, so they have to explain it.

mulan2 Mar. 07, 2014 - 06:49AM JST China doesn't hide anything, China has atomic bombs, China tells that to the world.

China is diversifying and modernizing its nuclear arsenal, and other countries such as Japan remain concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding China’s nuclear arsenal and doctrine. China joined the IAEA in 1984, but supplied nuclear technology and reactors to several countries of proliferation concern in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Chinese supplied design information, including warhead design and fissile material to Pakistan's nuclear weapons program that were later transferred to Libya for its program.

China is the first nuclear weapon state to adopt a nuclear "no first use" policy and an official pledge not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states. However, the release of China's 2013 Defense White Paper, which did not explicitly use the phrase “no first use,” as it did in the 2010 Defense White Paper, and previous white papers. Can you tell me why "no first use" was not included in the latest Defense White Paper?

@sfjp330

I don't know anything about your slanderous statement about Pakistan.

As for "no first use", I can tell you that China will not only "no first use" of atomic bombs against Japan, but also "no first use" any bombs, not even a sword.

Is that transparent?

mulan2Mar. 07, 2014 - 07:48AM JST @sfjp330I don't know anything about your slanderous statement about Pakistan.

Are you saying this report is slanderous and wrong?

Report saids: "However, in 1995, talks with US officials China eventually privately admitted the sale had taken place, but argued that China should not be penalized"

Source: http://cns.miis.edu/archive/country_india/china/npakpos.htm

“己所不欲勿施以于人”- Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.

You have gotten 2 A-bombs which you definitely did not like and will never like at all to get anymore in the days approching; don't ever try to give any to U.S of A.

Believe me, deep in the American's heart, they sincerely want the plutonium to be returned b'cause what will be the ill effect of "养虎为患", is, what they know exactly, on breeding, even though sort of a tiger that barks like a dog.

NSGEG sure has a lot of political scientists in it, which does not inspire me with confidence in their findings.

It would however be good to know what technical reources are needed to make that apple-sized sphere of plutonium, and then incorporate it into a viable device. Tricky I'd think.

As for missing plutonium, I recall earlier this year a post about that at a UK facility, but the truth was that there is uncertanty in estimating plutonium production. More of the same?

China knows Japan's plutonium reserves are no real cause for concern, but is choosing to make a stink. The relationship between Tokyo and Washington is one that China attempts to manipulate whenever they can. They know that the US is concerned over Abe's hawkishness and so they try and pander to that fear. But they also realize that it is that very same fear that ensures the US would never allow Japan to develop it to weapon's grade. There is an old Chinese saying that goes: "To be heard bang your gong on top of a hill" which is precisely what they are doing now.

The biggest threat to peace in Asia is most definitely China, North Korea a close second.

When China does something and others complain, China say it is no concern to them, when nations does something, even within their own country, China whines nonstop.

Idiot.

China should stop playing stupid games, trying to score points against Japan every week. It's pathetic really.

Zichi,

Not naive, just wanting evidence. All too often our news is assertions referencing other older assertions. Thanks for the link, this bit was interesting:

The Energy Department, not surprisingly, has a different perspective. Foreign governments have pledged to report on the security of the their fissile material. There are international inspectors to keep those governments honest. And the GAO hasn’t reported that any uranium or plutonium has gone missing — just that certain guidelines may not have been yet.