SURVEYING THE WMD LANDSCAPE IN ASIA-PACIFIC

PETER HAYES AND SHATABHISHA SHETTY MARCH 31 2022 I.  INTRODUCTION In their introduction to the book WMD in Asia-Pacific, Peter Hayes and Shatabhisha Shetty highlight key findings in the 18 chapters, examine seven nuclear force traits or tradeoffs that come with nuclear armament and shape the identity of the nuclear weapon-possessors in this region and […]

NPT-TPNW STANDOFF: WHO CAN BREAK THIS GRIDLOCK?

NOBUYASU ABE MARCH 20 2022   I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, Nobuyasu Abe underscores the need to bridge the gap between the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons so that they can together push forward the twin goals of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Nobuyasu Abe is a former UN […]

CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC: HISTORY, SCIENCE, AND FUTURE PROSPECT

JONATHAN FORMAN AND ALEXANDER KELLE MARCH 18 2022  I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, Jonathan Forman and Alexander Kelle visit some of the darkest episodes of past wars to remind us of the experimentation and use of chemical weapons in the Asia-Pacific region and the problem presented by modern chemical industry and innovation for maintaining the […]

POTENTIAL USE OF LOW-YIELD NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN A KOREAN CONTEXT

EVA LISOWSKI MARCH 6 2022 I.  INTRODUCTION   In this essay, Eva Lisowski  discusses the potential deterrence and escalatory effects of low-yield weapons and suggests eight possible cases for use of low-yield nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Eva Lisowski is a member of the Nuclear Weapons Education Project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology […]

COUNTERFORCE DILEMMAS AND THE RISK OF NUCLEAR WAR IN EAST ASIA

IAN BOWERS FEBRUARY 11 2022 I.  INTRODUCTION Using geostrategic, operational, and technological factors as the basis for analysis, Ian Bowers contextualizes these and other developments and assesses the potential for nuclear war in East Asia in general and on the Korean Peninsula in particular. Ian Bowers is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Joint […]

NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FREE ZONES IN ASIA

NYAMOSOR TUYA FEBRUARY 8 2022 I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, Nyamosor Tuya shows how these NWFZs emerged, compares their regulatory provisions, and gauges the near-term applicability of the NWFZ concept to Northeast Asia. Nyamosor Tuya served as Foreign Minister of Mongolia from 1998 to 2000 and is a Board Member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network […]

KOREAN PENINSULA NUCLEAR ISSUE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

ANASTASIA BARANNIKOVA FEBRUARY 5 2022    I.  INTRODUCTION Anastasia Barannikova argues that the DPRK’s nuclear status has already been accepted as a part of the regional status quo, and attempts by other actors to change the DPRK’s nuclear status would be destabilizing to regional security.  Anastasia Barannikova is a research fellow at ADM Nevelskoy Maritime […]