Of the nuclear-armed states interacting in the Asia-Pacific, only China has articulated a clear commitment not to be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. During the Obama administration, there was much controversy over whether the United States should adopt the doctrine of ‘no first use’ of nuclear arms as a step towards reducing nuclear threats and advancing the cause of a nuclear weapon-free world. However, there was resistance from regional allies of the US, such as South Korea and Japan who were concerned that any suggestion of a weakening of the American nuclear umbrella could lower the threshold for regional powers to contemplate conventional attacks. Similar perceptions of arms imbalances impact the nuclear doctrines of India and Pakistan. This session looks into the implications of the no-first-use principle in the Asia-Pacific amidst North Korea’s continual nuclear development and the mounting security risks catalyzed by the competition between the existing five nuclear powers interacting in the Asia Pacific.