No First Use: How to Overcome Japan’s Great Divide

Abstract

In Japan, there is strong support for nuclear disarmament and a no nuclear first use policy. The benefits of a no first use policy in promoting nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation and in preventing the start of a nuclear war by accident or by miscalculations are clear. However, except for a brief period under the Democratic administration, the Japanese Government has insisted that the US reject the no first use policy. Even though practical US dependence on nuclear weapons has markedly declined, realists still cling to nuclear deterrence and the retention of the first use option. The strict application of international humanitarian law principles further limits cases where nuclear weapons can be used. The deep divide between the proponents and opponents of nuclear weapons has to be overcome for Japan to support the US no first use policy. There is, thus, a need to explore ways to bridge this divide. To this end, the divide between the proponents and opponents of no first use should be analyzed in detail based on the current military and security situation in the region.