Japan is becoming bolder, openly encouraging the United States to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory to deter China? If this were to become a reality, would China's "three no principles" still be effective?

In a tabletop exercise between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military in 2025 regarding the Taiwan Strait conflict, Japan repeatedly requested the U.S. to respond with "nuclear intimidation" if China were to use nuclear weapons, which sparked strong opposition. Some Japanese groups believe this goes against the principle of peace.

The background of this incident is that Japan and the United States held their first routine meeting involving nuclear weapons, where they discussed the steps for the U.S. to use nuclear weapons to defend Japan.

The most important aspect was the simulation of the use of nuclear weapons by the U.S. military. We do not know the specific details, nor would they be disclosed. It could involve fifth-generation fighter jets taking off from the U.S. mainland carrying nuclear weapons, or the deployment of American nuclear weapons on Japanese soil. All these are possible within the scope of the U.S.-Japan exercise.

Although this is the first time that the U.S. and Japan have publicly simulated the use of nuclear weapons, the so-called "nuclear deterrence" against China has been continuously hyped before. As early as half a century ago, Japan's so-called defense guidelines already stated that it would rely on the U.S. nuclear deterrent against external nuclear threats.

After joining the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Japan has always hoped that the U.S. would deploy nuclear weapons on its territory. However, due to various reasons, the U.S. has not permanently deployed nuclear weapons on Japanese soil. In the past, when the U.S. had carrier-based nuclear weapons, they were briefly deployed in Okinawa, Japan.

In recent years, the Japanese government has once again raised the issue of the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Prime Minister Ishiba previously wrote to an American think tank, volunteering to urge the U.S. to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan, as part of an Asian version of NATO, to deter China, Russia, and North Korea.

Now, the U.S. attitude is actually quite conflicted. Does the U.S. want to use nuclear weapons to deter China?

Certainly. If there is an opportunity, the U.S. will definitely place nuclear weapons at China's doorstep, which is like putting a knife at China's neck. However, China has not given the U.S. this opportunity, and will not give it either.

Additionally, the U.S. is also very worried that if Japan's restrictions are relaxed, Japan might turn against the U.S. The U.S. strategic community is also concerned about this.

For China, whether Japan develops nuclear weapons itself or the U.S. deploys them on Japanese soil, both are unacceptable. Japan's "three no principles" (not possessing, not manufacturing, not introducing nuclear weapons) were established as basic policy in 1967, aiming to prevent nuclear proliferation and maintain regional stability.

If Japan violates this basic national policy, as Chinese netizens said, then China's "three no principles" for nuclear weapons would also no longer apply to Japan.

China has committed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or non-nuclear weapon zones. However, if Japan possesses nuclear weapons and even threatens to use nuclear deterrence against China, then Japan will no longer be within the scope of our "three no principles." We warn Japan and the U.S. that nuclear weapons should not be treated lightly with China, because China not only has them, but they are more effective than those of the U.S.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7532317637896864310/

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