Japan, Britain, France and other US allies are urging the North American country not to declare a “no first use” policy, under which the country would not use nuclear weapons unless it was attacked with nuclear weapons.

Maintaining the US nuclear deterrence is essential for the security of each country, according to Japanese government sources.

In an article published in the US magazine Foreign Affairs last year, US President Joe Biden said: “I believe that the sole purpose of the US nuclear arsenal should be deterring – and, if necessary, retaliating against – a nuclear attack.”

A “no first use” policy is expected to be an issue for consideration in the Nuclear Posture Review, which the US administration has been working on since summer.

However, the military balance is tilting in favour of China over Japan and the US, as China has outpaced the US in the development of hypersonic weapons that are difficult to intercept.

The Japanese government is concerned that the “‘no first use’ would send the wrong message to China and other countries, and would diminish deterrence capabilities”, a senior foreign ministry official said.

Japan informally conveyed this concern to the US after the Biden administration took office.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to hold talks with Biden in the US before the end of this year.

Kishida hopes to reaffirm the provision of “extended nuclear deterrence”, under which the US would retaliate with nuclear weapons or other means in the event of an armed attack on an allied country.

THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK