President Barack Obama declined a Japanese invitation to visit the atomic bomb ground zero at Hiroshima last week on his first official visit to East Asia, the same choice as every post-World War II president before him also made, though he said he would like to visit the site in the future.
Obama told Japanese broadcaster NHK last Tuesday that the decision resulted from time constraints on his trip and nothing more, though many had expected Obama would be the first president to take Japan up on the repeated offer.
In a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Obama responded to questions about his outlook on Hiroshima and on the non-nuclear future he has envisioned.
A Japanese reporter asked Obama about his stance on visiting the bomb site and his historical opinion on the bombing, according to a conference transcript posted by the Associated Press.
While Obama said he does not have ‘immediate travel plans,’ he stressed the role such a visit would play in his and Hatoyama’s shared interest in nuclear non-proliferation.
‘Obviously Japan has unique perspective on the issue of nuclear weapons as a consequence of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,’ Obama said. ‘I certainly would be honored, it would be meaningful for me to visit those two cities in the future.’
He said he and Hatoyama both recognized that non-proliferation is a very long-term goal.
‘But in seeking this goal we can stop the spread of nuclear weapons; we can secure loose nuclear weapons; we can strengthen the non-proliferation regime,’ he said. ‘As long as nuclear weapons exist, we will retain our deterrent for our people and our allies, but we are already taking steps to bring down our nuclear stockpiles and . . . we want to continue to work on the non-proliferation issues.’
Some Boston University students said it was reasonable to have to delay in accepting the invitation as long as Obama does indeed intend to visit someday.
‘ ‘If he says he’s busy, I don’t see any alternative motive he would have,’ College of Communication second-year graduate student Chris Nelson said. ‘Problems he faces are huge and people are looking for a miracle worker. He’s doing well in the context of the problems he has to deal with.’
College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Olivia Huleatt said she is confident the president would gladly make the trip when he is able.
‘His reason could be valid and criticism could be a little too much considering how much he has on his plate right now,’ she said. ‘There’s a time and place for tradition.’
Some said the president should send a stronger message of international cooperation by visiting the site.
CAS freshman Sandra Chan said Obama must be more cautious than his predecessors in making decisions like this one because many are holding him to a higher standard.
‘It doesn’t make sense that he would reject the invitation,’ she said. ‘He’s doing a good job making connections and trying to fix our international image, but his presidency has too many expectations and he just gets criticized too much when he doesn’t live up to those expectations.’
Metropolitan College sophomore Julian Anding said Obama should have used the visit to set an example as a world leader.
‘That’s unfortunate that he even wouldn’t spend time in a place where so many people have died,’ she said. ‘I think it sends a wrong message to the rest of the world.’
Obama has done well building a good international reputation for the U.S. until now, Anding said.
‘The rejection seems uncharacteristic of him,’ she said.
Staff Reporter Yue Huang contributed to the reporting of this article.