Japanese media interest in the question of Japan getting nuclear -powered submarines peaked in late September last year, immediately after Australia made a surprise announcement that it would acquire this technology as part of its AUKUS deal with the United States and the United Kingdom, Australian Defence Magazine reports.
That announcement was made just prior to Japan’s ruling Liberal Democrat Party’s (LDP) leadership election. Two candidates for this position, former Minister of Defence Taro Kono, and the current head of the LDP’s Policy Research Council Sanae Takaichi, voiced strong support for following Australia’s lead.
