Establishment of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

We will not use chemical weapons against any country that joins the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Since the other side might use chemical weapons, there would be no reason for us not to use them as well. We won't strike first, but we'll leave that possibility open.

That was the Empire's position.

At first glance, it was a reasonable argument. After all, there was nothing particularly strange about using chemical weapons against an enemy capable of using them.

But who in the world would launch a preemptive chemical strike against the Empire?

To the envoys from each country, those words sounded like a threat: Join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or we'll use chemical weapons against you.

During a break in the conference, the envoys sought out their allies and talked in small groups.

"If we accept this, won't the Empire's standing rise too high? We should take the lead and declare that we won't join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons."

It was obvious that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons would raise the Empire's standing even further.

Until now, the Empire had certainly been seen as a powerful nation, but people had also strongly viewed it as isolated, with no allies...