Japan's ruling parties open talks on revising security documents, with the US alliance at the center

The first working-level session between the LDP and Nippon Ishin shared a view on the importance of the Japan-US alliance, while the three non-nuclear principles and nuclear submarines await discussion.

By Newsroom10 November 2026, 15:45 JST2 min read

Japan's ruling parties open talks on revising security documents, with the US alliance at the center — Liberal Democratic Party security research committee chair Yasukazu Hamada, third from right, greets attendees at a ruling-party working-level meeting on revising the three security documents, at the Diet on the morning of November 10. (x)

The Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai opened working-level talks on revising Japan's three security documents at the Diet on Tuesday, agreeing on the importance of the Japan-US alliance as they prepare for a Cabinet approval in December.

The three documents include the National Security Strategy. The two parties' officials discussed ways to strengthen defense and diplomacy in light of changes in Japan's security environment, the Sankei Shimbun reported.

At the session, the government presented plans to raise Japan's "denial capability" — the ability to dissuade an adversary from invading — and to make the use of artificial intelligence a pillar of its defense buildup. It also explained the military coordination among China, Russia and North Korea.

The two sides compared their views on the threats facing Japan. They agreed that the alliance is indispensable and that Japan needs to raise its strategic autonomy.

Neither nuclear submarines nor the three non-nuclear principles — Japan's policy of not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons — came up at the meeting.

Ishin presses on nuclear policy and submarines

Nippon Ishin is calling for "realistic consideration" of the principle of not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan. It has also proposed the early introduction of nuclear submarines to strengthen deterrence.

The LDP's own proposals touch on neither point. Taro Honda, secretary-general of the party's security research council, told reporters after the meeting that the two sides would discuss any differences of opinion.

The working group is headed by the chairmen of the two parties' security research councils, Seiichiro Hamada of the LDP and Seiji Maehara of Nippon Ishin.

“We will proceed with concrete deliberations based on bold and new thinking, taking the ruling parties' discussions into account.”Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, at a press conference

The next meeting is scheduled for the 16th or later. It will take up a defense industry base strategy the government aims to draw up and a plan to create a new corporation to strengthen the production base for defense equipment.