Japan Debates Nuclear Arms Amid China Tensions; US Warns, China Fumes

• Japan is debating whether to abandon its non-nuclear principles and acquire nuclear weapons, moving away from its reliance on the US "nuclear umbrella."
• Former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and a PMO official advocate for reviewing Japan's nuclear policy due to rising tensions with China.
• Former PM Shigeru Ishiba argues that acquiring nuclear weapons would not benefit Japan.
• The US State Department, while calling Japan a "global leader" in non-proliferation, issued a subtle warning against acquiring nuclear arms.
• China's Global Times, citing spokesperson Guo Jiakun, warned Japan to "stay within limits" and stop increasing its military power.

Why It Matters: Japan's nuclear debate intensifies amid China tensions, challenging its post-war non-nuclear stance.