A panel of the Science Council of Japan has proposed upholding the organization's postwar rejection of military research in a new statement following a review of past statements on the issue -- the first such review in some 50 years.
The council's exploratory committee on national security and science drafted the new declaration titled, "A draft statement on security studies for military purposes," which states the council will "succeed" the past two statements rejecting research for military purposes.
The proposal will be put to debate at the panel's final meeting on March 7, where it may be modified. If a consensus is reached, the statement will be adopted at a full council general meeting in April. Although the statement will not be binding, it is expected to affect research policies among member universities and institutions.
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