Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

[Policy Proposal]

Shape National Discussion
on Strengthening Nuclear Deterrence

With the Revision of the ‘Three Strategy Documents’ Approaching,
It’s Time to Establish National Understanding and Begin Policy Consideration

Our proposal is based on the awareness that Japan has reached a point where its people should face real threats and have serious discussion on “what is essential for the country not to be attacked with nuclear weapons again,” while upholding the ideal of a “world without nuclear weapons.”

The ideal of abolishing nuclear weapons is historically and morally important and it must continue to be pursued in the future. That said, in the rapidly deteriorating security environment, we must also recognize the reality that ideals alone are insufficient to cope with. The rapid and diverse expansion of nuclear forces by China and North Korea is making the threat to Japan become more real. For its part, the United States has announced plans to develop a nuclear-capable sea-launched cruise missile-nuclear, known as SLCM-N, with limited deployment planned for 2032. Under such circumstances, Japan should deepen proactive discussion without relying on the premise that “nuclear doesn’t speak but works.”

Based on the aforementioned understanding, the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals (JINF) requests the Japanese government to address the following two points in the process of revising the Three Strategy Documents—the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Buildup Program—of 2022 scheduled for the end of Reiwa 8 (2026).