Agnostic_Indian
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2010
- Messages
- 3,102
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
US -China Disagreement on NFU :
As stated above , China has consistently called on the United States to adopt a no -first- use policy , to reach a NFU agreement bilaterally with China and to conclude an NFU agreement among the five nuclear weapon states . Some arguments put forward by both sides --from both academics and policymakers -- include the following:
Chinese arguments : NFU is important to preventing nuclear war , strengthening the nonproliferation regime, and promoting nuclear disarmament The United States does not need to reserve the right to use nuclear weapons first due to US conventional superiority A no - first-use pledge is a necessary first step to achieving multilateral nuclear reductions among the five nuclear weapon states NFU is a serious political commitment with a strong politically -binding force , and will provide for more strategic stability than the existing deterrence policies
US arguments:
The option to use nuclear weapons first under extraordinary circumstances is necessary to provide credible security guarantees to its alliance partners around the globe ; US security commitments to other countries are much wider than China' s and thus demand a NFU policy. The adoption of an NFU policy might undermine the credibility of US security guarantees to its allies , pushing them toward acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities of their own NFU is highly symbolic , lacks real substance, is not verifiable , and can be easily changed The option to use nuclear weapons first can deter the use of chemical or biological weapons (CBW ) against the United States and its allies and friends
No-First-Use (NFU)
As stated above , China has consistently called on the United States to adopt a no -first- use policy , to reach a NFU agreement bilaterally with China and to conclude an NFU agreement among the five nuclear weapon states . Some arguments put forward by both sides --from both academics and policymakers -- include the following:
Chinese arguments : NFU is important to preventing nuclear war , strengthening the nonproliferation regime, and promoting nuclear disarmament The United States does not need to reserve the right to use nuclear weapons first due to US conventional superiority A no - first-use pledge is a necessary first step to achieving multilateral nuclear reductions among the five nuclear weapon states NFU is a serious political commitment with a strong politically -binding force , and will provide for more strategic stability than the existing deterrence policies
US arguments:
The option to use nuclear weapons first under extraordinary circumstances is necessary to provide credible security guarantees to its alliance partners around the globe ; US security commitments to other countries are much wider than China' s and thus demand a NFU policy. The adoption of an NFU policy might undermine the credibility of US security guarantees to its allies , pushing them toward acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities of their own NFU is highly symbolic , lacks real substance, is not verifiable , and can be easily changed The option to use nuclear weapons first can deter the use of chemical or biological weapons (CBW ) against the United States and its allies and friends
No-First-Use (NFU)