A statement drafted for a foreign ministerial meeting in Hiroshima next month involving Japan and other nonnuclear weapons states will call for countries such as China to participate in nuclear arms reduction talks between the United States and Russia, a government source said.
The move is essentially aimed at China, the only country among the five recognized nuclear weapons states under the global nonproliferation regime that is believed to be increasing its nuclear arsenal.
The draft, which will call for progress on nuclear disarmament via multilateral efforts, reflects Japan's wish for a continued push toward abolition, the source said Sunday.