China points to Biden remarks on Japan’s nuclear capacity in warning over regional security risks
China has raised fresh concerns over Japan’s latent nuclear weapons capability, citing a past message from former US president Joe Biden to President Xi Jinping that Tokyo could develop nuclear arms in an extremely short time if it chose to do so.
An official Chinese report released on Thursday assessed what it described as Japan’s potential nuclear threat, arguing that the country possesses both the technological expertise and economic strength to achieve nuclear armament rapidly. The document stated that Japan may already have accumulated weapons grade plutonium through civilian nuclear programmes, a claim that has long featured in debates over regional security in East Asia.
According to the report, Beijing’s concerns were reinforced by a direct message previously delivered by Joe Biden to Xi Jinping, in which the former US leader reportedly acknowledged that Japan had the capacity to acquire nuclear weapons virtually overnight. Chinese analysts said the remark underscored longstanding fears that Japan’s advanced nuclear fuel cycle and industrial base could be repurposed if political constraints were removed.
Japan maintains that its nuclear activities are strictly for peaceful purposes and are conducted under international safeguards. As a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, Tokyo has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. However, China’s report argues that Japan’s stockpiles of separated plutonium and its sophisticated nuclear infrastructure create what it describes as an inherent strategic risk.
The report situates Japan’s capabilities within a broader regional context marked by rising military spending and intensifying security competition. Chinese officials have warned that ambiguity surrounding nuclear latency can fuel mistrust and trigger arms race dynamics, particularly in a region already facing tensions over the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan.
By referencing Biden’s message, Beijing appears to be highlighting what it sees as contradictions in US policy. Chinese commentators argue that while Washington publicly supports nuclear non proliferation, private acknowledgements of allies’ nuclear potential complicate efforts to maintain strategic stability in Asia.
The report also reflects growing unease in China over closer security cooperation between the United States and Japan. Expanded defence ties, joint military planning and discussions around deterrence have heightened Beijing’s sensitivity to Japan’s strategic role in the region.
Japanese officials have not responded directly to the Chinese report, but Tokyo has consistently rejected accusations that it harbours nuclear ambitions. Japan remains the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, a history that has shaped strong domestic opposition to nuclear weapons.
Analysts say China’s decision to publicise the assessment is likely aimed at influencing regional and international opinion rather than signalling an immediate policy shift. By framing Japan’s nuclear potential as a security concern, Beijing may be seeking to pressure both Tokyo and Washington to reaffirm commitments to non proliferation and transparency.
The episode highlights how nuclear issues remain deeply entangled with broader geopolitical rivalry in East Asia. As trust between major powers erodes, statements made behind closed doors can take on new significance when invoked in public debates.
For now, the report adds another layer to already strained regional relations, underscoring how perceptions of nuclear capability, even without explicit weapons development, continue to shape strategic calculations across the Asia Pacific.
