NAPSNet 8 September 2011
- DETERRENCE: Nuclear drawdown, deterrence, and non-proliferation
- CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTION: A climate for conflict or cooperation? Addressing the securitisation of climate change
- ENERGY SECURITY: China’s nuclear power plans unfazed by Fukushima disaster
- DPRK: The environmental protection law amended – environmental certification system to be newly introduced
- GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Jeju project resumes after rally falls flat
- AUSTRAL SECURITY: Australian High Court rules against Malaysia swap deal
DETERRENCE: Nuclear drawdown, deterrence, and non-proliferation, What is the role of nuclear and non-nuclear-based deterrence as a means of prevention in the current and future threat environment? Deterrence: Its Past and Future: Panel Two (20 May 2011)
In Northeast Asia, US extended nuclear deterrence has reassured its allies against attack; dissuaded them from building nuclear weapons; likely prevented smaller scale conflicts from escalating into larger ones; but has been either unsuccessful or counter-productive in preventing small-scale conventional provocations and proliferation by North Korea.
- Is a nuclear-free East Asia possible? Opportunities and constraints, 6th Jeju Forum Panel (28 May 2011)
- New Asia Pacific Leadership group to work for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, Asia Pacific Leadership Network (18 May 2011) [PDF 189KB]
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: A climate for conflict or cooperation? Addressing the securitisation of climate change (DRAFT), Third Global International Studies Conference, University of Porto (17-20 August 2011) [PDF, 571KB]
Climate change is an emerging threat to international peace and security. This draft paper discusses the link between the securitization of climate change and its militarization by focusing on the European Union region. It argues that addressing climate change through a security framework (in terms of resource allocation and policy prioritization) can be a positive development as it entails a great level of cooperation.
- Warning of climate change’s threat to global security, Ban urges concerted action, UN News Centre (20 July 2011)
- A climate of war? Stopping the securitisation of global climate change, International Peace Bureau (June 2007) [PDF, 859KB]
ENERGY SECURITY: China’s nuclear power plans unfazed by Fukushima disaster, Yale Environment 360 (08 August 2011)
While a number of other countries reconsider their commitments to nuclear power following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan, China plans to build 36 reactors over the next decade, with 26 under construction now. China’s new reactors are designed to be less expensive and quicker to construct, as well as having passive safety features, but concerns regarding reactor safety and quality assurance for China-built components remain.
- China restarts progress on its nuclear energy program: Post-Fukushima safety checks are done, but the size of the new build will be smaller, The Energy Collective (06 September 2011)
- China’s nuclear-power chief: A spy? The New Yorker (29 August 2011)
- Urban security in China – A case study of Dalian, Nautilus Institute (06 September 2011) [PDF, 334KB]
DPRK: The environmental protection law amended – environmental certification system to be newly introduced, IFES (31 August 2011)
North Korea revised its environmental protection law to encourage the development of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and geothermal power, and reduce the reliance on coal and crude oil. The law now also includes an environmental certification system. The environmental protection law was amended to “protect the environment and promote continuous economic growth.” Coal and coke currently constitute 56% of North Korea’s energy supply.
- Energy and mineral resources in North Korean security and sustainability, Korean Journal of Defense Analysis (June 2011) [PDF, 308KB]
- Unbearable legacies: the politics of environmental degradation in North Korea, Nautilus Institute (1 September 2009) [PDF, 380KB]
- State of the environment report, DPR Korea, 2003, UN Environment Programme (2003) [PDF, 2.58MB]
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Jeju project resumes after rally falls flat, Joongang Daily (5 September 2011)
Construction resumed on a controversial Marine naval base in Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island after approximately 600 police cleared protesters and arrested 39 leaders, allowing a fence to be installed around the site. Around 1000 protesters gathered over the weekend, but failed to prevent resumption of the project in the face of a court injunction forbidding any interference with construction.
- South Korean police detain island activists opposed to base, New York Times (2 September 2011)
- Police clear protesters from Jeju base site, Joongang Daily (3 September 2011)
AUSTRAL SECURITY: Australian High Court rules against Malaysia swap deal, ABC Asia Pacific News (31 August 2011)
On August 31 the Australian High Court declared the temporary injunction against the transfer of asylum seekers permanent. The ruling has raised questions about the practice of offshore processing followed by successive Governments. The following articles look at the impacts of the ruling on Australian politics and the region.
- Plaintiff M70/2011 v minister for immigration and citizenship; Plaintiff M106 of 2011 v minister for immigration and citizenship [2011] HCA 32 (31 August 2011), High Court of Australia (31 August 2011)
- Government officials warn of unrest after flood of boats if offshore processing is abandoned, Australian (7 September 2011)
- Asylum seekers and refugees: what are the facts, Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of Australia (22 July 2011) [PDF, 771KB]
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Editors
Contributors
- Deterrence: Peter Hayes
- Governance and Civil Society: Yi Kiho
- Climate Change Adaptation: Saleem Janjua
- DPRK: Scott Bruce
- Energy Security: David von Hippel
- Austral Security: Arabella Imhoff, Mihiri Weerasinghe