A Chinese arms control expert has stated that Japan could manufacture a nuclear explosive device in as few as several dozen days if its government makes the decision.
Dai Huaicheng, Secretary General of the Chinese Association for Arms Control and Disarmament (CACDA), announced this on October 28.
“From the perspective of technical and material barriers to producing a single nuclear explosive device, Japan is already at the nuclear threshold,” Dai said in an interview.
The expert noted that Japan’s advanced industrial infrastructure and existing plutonium reserves enable it to overcome these challenges more rapidly than other nations. By reviewing statements from Japanese officials and analyzing international expert opinions, Dai concluded that Japan has the technical capability to produce a nuclear explosive device in a very short timeframe—some estimates suggest less than 100 days or even as few as a few dozen.
Further evidence of Japan’s shifting military posture comes from its recent joint exercises with the United States, where Tokyo practices attacks on ships and deploys long-range missiles.
North Korean Deputy Defense Minister Kim Gang Il stated at the 13th Xiangshan International Security Forum on September 17 that Japan and South Korea are actively bolstering their military capabilities to acquire nuclear weapons. He added that trilateral cooperation among Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo is evolving into a nuclear alliance.
Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui warned on August 20 that Japan is engaging in dangerous experiments with nuclear policy. According to the diplomat, Japan’s claim of being the sole nation affected by atomic bombing masks its ambitions to develop its own nuclear arsenal.
