Roughly a year and a half after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japanese government at a Cabinet meeting on Sept. 19 adopted its basic policy on new energy and environment strategies crafted as a response to the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant accident. The government had initially intended to give Cabinet endorsement to the "Innovative Energy and Environment Strategy" adopted earlier by Cabinet ministers concerned, which called for ending nuclear power plant operations by the end of 2030s.
Faced with strong objections from business circles, certain Western governments and local governments hosting nuclear plants, however, the Noda Cabinet ended up issuing a vague statement saying that, on the basis of the strategy, it will hold "responsible discussions with local governments concerned and the international society and, while seeking public understanding, carry out (the strategy) with flexibility, constant examination and review." In the eyes of people, the conclusion appeared to reflect the government's wavering position on the issue.
Still, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda emphasized that he has not deviated from the policy of nuclear phaseout by the end of 2030s, and his Democratic Party of Japan will likely stick to that position to maximize its chances in the next general election, to be held "in the near future."