TOKYO, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Friday that Japan would "not rule out any options" in discussions and studies on whether to acquire nuclear-powered submarines as part of a revision of the country's key security documents, Kyodo News reported.
Koizumi made the remarks at a press conference when asked about whether Japan should possess nuclear submarines, the report said.
This is not the first time Koizumi has made a similar statement. In October last year, when asked about the issue, he said he would "not rule out any options" for next-generation submarine propulsion, suggesting the possible introduction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Meanwhile, a U.S. Navy official expressed a positive view of Japan's study of employing nuclear submarines, according to Kyodo News on Thursday, noting that Japan already operates nuclear power plants and that there are technological similarities between nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered submarines.
The issue has gained support from the Japan Innovation Party, which forms the ruling coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party. In a proposal submitted to the government in June on revising three key security documents, the party called for Japan to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.
However, the moves have drawn opposition in Japan. In July, several civic groups and relevant individuals issued a statement criticizing the plan, saying that Japan has long advocated the abolition of nuclear weapons and that the country's Atomic Energy Basic Act stipulates that the use of nuclear energy shall be limited to peaceful purposes. Possessing nuclear-powered submarines, they said, would amount to Japan denying its own longstanding position. ■