This report, Hiroshima Report 2018: Evaluation of Achievement in Nuclear Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Security in 2017 (hereinafter referred to as “Hiroshima Report 2018”) is an outcome of the “Hiroshima Report Publication Project,”1 commissioned by Hiroshima Prefecture to the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). It updates the previous reports issued since 2013. As in the last five years, the Hiroshima Report is published in both Japanese and English.

The prospects of eliminating nuclear weapons are still distant at best. Even more worrying, the situation regarding nuclear weapons is becoming more and more complex. The five nuclear-weapon states (NWS) under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—and other nuclear-armed states—India, Israel and Pakistan—continue to perceive their nuclear weapons as one of the indispensable components for their national security, and have not made any definite move toward renouncing their nuclear arsenals. Instead, they have taken measures, such as modernization of nuclear forces and development of new delivery vehicles, with a view to sustaining nuclear deterrence for a longer period. Non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS) increase their frustration over such a situation. Many of them pursue to promote a legal prohibition of nuclear weapons, and finally concluded the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) on July 7, 2017. However, nuclear-armed states and allies refuse to sign the treaty. It is also a concern that the rift between proponents (many NNWS) and opponents (nuclear-armed states and allies) has been further widening.

The status and prospects regarding nuclear non-proliferation are also gloomy. Good news is that the international community was given a chance to solve the long-standing concern about the nuclear ambition of Iran. On the other hand, North Korea is determined to pursue building up of its nuclear forces after declaring withdrawal from the NPT and conducted six nuclear tests. The North also repeats its nuclear provocations. While the world falters in erecting a firm barrier against nuclear proliferation, the threat persists for a new proliferator to emerge on the scene. The threat of nuclear terrorism by non-state actors remains a high security concern in this globalized world. Growing worldwide interest in peaceful use of nuclear energy increases the risk of nuclear proliferation as well as terrorism. While problems facing nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear security intensify, efforts toward solving them have progressed at a snail’s pace.

The Hiroshima Report attempts to help the movement toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, first, by clarifying the current status of the issues and efforts surrounding nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear security. By doing so, it aims to encourage increased debate on these issues by policy-makers, experts in and outside governments, and civil society. Furthermore, by issuing the “Report” and the “Evaluation” from Hiroshima, where a nuclear weapon was once used, it aims to help focus attention and promote further actions in various fields toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons.

The Research Committee was established to conduct this project, namely producing the “Report” and the “Evaluation.” This Committee met once within the Japanese Fiscal Year 2017 to discuss the contents. The members of the Research Committee are as follows:

Chairperson

Sumio Tarui (Director, Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (CPDNP), JIIA)

Research Members

Sukeyuki Ichimasa (Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Defense Studies)

Akira Kawasaki (Executive Committee Member, Peace Boat)

Masahiro Kikuchi (Board Member, Nuclear Material Control Center)

Mitsuru Kurosawa (Professor, Osaka Jogakuin College)

Kazumi Mizumoto (Vice-President, Hiroshima Peace Institute, Hiroshima City University)

Hiroshi Tamai (Senior Expert, Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security, Japan Atomic Energy Agency)

Research Member and Project Coordinator

Hirofumi Tosaki (Senior Research Fellow, CPDNP, JIIA)

The Research Committee appreciates the comments and advices to the “Report” given by the following experts.

Ambassador Nobuyasu Abe (Former Commissioner, Japan Atomic Energy Commission)

Mr. Mark Fitzpatrick (Executive Director of the Americas Office and head of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme, International Institute for Strategic Studies)

Professor John Simpson (Emeritus Professor of International Relations, University of Southampton)

Professor Tatsujiro Suzuki (Director, Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University)

In this edition, experts posted columns on the TPNW and other nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues.2

Appreciation is also expressed to Mr. Gordon Wyn Jones (King’s College London, Centre for Science and Security Studies) for editing the Hiroshima Report as well as valuable comments.

Views or opinions expressed in the “Report,” “Evaluation” and “Columns” are those of the members of the Research Committee or respective authors, and do not necessarily represent the view of the Hiroshima Prefecture, the JIIA, or the organizations to which they belong. Not all of the members necessarily agree on all of the points discussed.

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[1] This project has been conducted as a part of the “Hiroshima for Global Peace” Plan launched by Hiroshima Prefecture in 2011.

[2] Views or opinions expressed in the columns are those of the respective authors, and do not represent the view of the Hiroshima Prefecture, the JIIA, or the organizations to which they belong. The Research Committee appreciates Shun Muramatsu, Daiki Osada, Takaaki Sato, Mao Sato, and Keita Tanaka for translating those columns, as well as Dr. Wakana Mukai (Assistant Professor, Asia University) for supervising their translations and translating a column.

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