Japan Tells Rice It Will Not Seek Nuclear Weapons



TOKYO, Oct. 18 - The government of Japan assured Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today that it has no intention of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, despite North Korea's detonation of a nuclear device.

Assure：make certain

Intention: an aim or objective

Detonation: explosion

"The government of Japan has no position at all to consider going nuclear," said Taro Aso, Japan's foreign minister. "There is no need to arm ourselves with nuclear weapons, either."

His statement came during a joint news conference in which Ms. Rice vowed that the full range of American military commitments to Japan remained undiminished.

Arm: to equip with weapons

Joint : united

Undiminished: 没有减少的

"The United States has the will and the capability to meet the full range - and I underscore full range - of its deterrent and security commitments to Japan," Ms. Rice said.

North Korea's nuclear test set off political tremors throughout the region and raised fears that several of the advanced economic and technological powers might seek their own nuclear deterrent, setting off a new Asian arms race.

Underscore：to emphasize

Deterrent: something that deters

Tremor: 震动

Japan is certainly a nation with the nuclear know-how to move rapidly, if it chose, toward creating a nuclear arsenal.

Hawks in the Japanese political establishment have said the nation should engage in a debate over going nuclear, but have stopped short of calling for Japan to embark on a nuclear program. But given the legacy of World War II and constitutional restrictions that limit Japan's military to a defense force, even the idea of a debate over a nuclear arsenal is a significant change.

Arsenal: a stock of weapons

Establishment: 制定

Engage: to join ，involve

Embark：to set out ,commence

Legacy: heritage遗留物

Restriction: 限制，约束
关键字:好文共赏
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