U.S. Doubles Down on Nuclear Umbrella Near China

[william]

The United States reaffirmed its "nuclear commitment" to defend its security ally Japan on Sunday by reinforcing extended deterrence which defied China's demands on nukes.

The U.S. and Japan held a "two-plus-two" ministerial meeting on extended deterrence for the first time in Tokyo. The two countries have been coordinated on this nuclear issue primarily through the working officials level Extended Deterrence Dialogue, or EDD, since 2010.

An EDD was hosted by the U.S. at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming in June to strengthen extended deterrence, which was described as the core of the alliance. The base operates nuclear-tipped missiles where the two sides also conducted a tabletop exercise.

Extended deterrence is a commitment to deter and to respond to potential nuclear and non-nuclear scenarios in defense of allies and partners, also known as providing a "nuclear umbrella," according to the U.S. Air Force doctrine publication on nuclear operations.

The U.S. and Japan planned to compile their first joint document on extended deterrence within the year, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported last week. It will be specific on what circumstances Tokyo should face in order for Washington to retaliate with its nukes.

"During that meeting, I reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to defend Japan with the full range of our capabilities, including our nuclear capabilities," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at a press briefing in Tokyo after talks with the top Japanese officials.

U.S. doubles down on nuclear umbrella near China

The U.S. enhanced its extended deterrence to security ally Japan.

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