Page 234 - Trilateral Korea Japan U.S. Cooperation

principles. When Presidents Xi and Biden next meet, the two
sides should consider issuing the following joint declaration:

In accordance with the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), we completely
reject the use or threatened use of nuclear weapons against
non-nuclear or nuclear weapon states and pledge to jointly
support the most severe sanctions possible against any state
that would use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear or
nuclear adversary.

While not naming names, this would be seen as a direct
warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin (and an indirect
warning to Kim Jong-Un) that nuclear saber-rattling will not
be supported or excused.

Such a joint statement would be seen as a major step forward
in Sino-US cooperation and would also benefit (or at least
limit the damage to) Beijing’s international image which has
been severely damaged by its apparent “no limits” support
of Moscow and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Chinese
colleagues may try to argue that China is “neutral” when
it comes to Ukraine, but you will find few in the United
States or throughout most of Europe who would accept
this characterization. While some national leaders may be
hesitant to say it out loud, the widely-held belief throughout
much of the international community and especially in the
West is that China has facilitated, if not empowered, Russia’s
clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Japanese, South
Korean, and American political leaders, regardless of political
affiliation, should support such a declaration.

234 Section III : South Korea-Japan-U.S. Cooperation: How to Deter Pyongyang and Dissuade Beijing