28 June 2012
The Nautilus Peace and Security Weekly Report presents articles and full length reports each week in six categories: Austral security, nuclear deterrence, energy security, climate change adaptation, the DPRK, and governance and civil society. Our team of contributors carefully select items that highlight the links between these themes and the three regions in which our offices are found—North America, Northeast Asia, and the Austral-Asia region. Each week, one of our authors also provides a short blog that explores these inter-relationships.
CONTENTS
- DETERRENCE: Southeast Asia nuclear-weapon-free zone and the nuclear-weapon states
- DPRK: Russia to write off North Korean debt
- CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Addressing climate change and migration in Asia and the Pacific
- ENERGY SECURITY: Rio+20 Earth Summit results in nonbinding declaration with moderate goals
- GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Local governments to demand change at utility shareholders’ meetings
- AUSTRAL PEACE AND SECURITY: U.S. eyes return to some Southeast Asia military bases
DETERRENCE: Southeast Asia nuclear-weapon-free zone and the nuclear-weapon states, Peter Crail and Xiaodon Liang, East-West Center, Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 148 (7 February 2012) [PDF, 0.13 MB)
In an apparent breakthrough, rather than negative security assurances being made only to the zone members, the nuclear powers would have to agree not to target any areas within the zone, including the EEZs, and from within the NWFZ.
- Towards a more secure and WMD-free Middle East, Mark Fitzpatrick, UN Association of UK Briefing Paper 2 (3 May 2012) [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- Unconventional wisdom, M. Malin, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (28 May 2012)
- Deterrence and regional stability, Lieutenant General Hla Min, Minister for Defence, Myanmar, The Shangri-La Dialogue, Third Plenary Session, Singapore (2 June 2012)
DPRK: Russia to write off North Korean debt, Kim Young-jin, Korea Times (24 June 2012)
Russia will write off 90 percent of North Korea’s debt of $11 billion – about 2.5 times the investment in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization. The remaining debt will be invested in joint education, medical and energy projects. South Korea, Japan and the U.S. completed their first tri-partite exercise. South Korean and U.S. militaries marked the 62nd anniversary of the Korean War with the largest one day exercise to date.
- North Korea raps war games flag “provocation”, Pakistan Daily Times (26 June 2012)
- Japan, Russia sign LNG project memo, Daily Yomiuri Online (26 June 2012)
- North Korea’s busy border, Andrei Lankov, Asia Times (21 June 2012)
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Addressing climate change and migration in Asia and the Pacific, Final Report, Asian Development Bank, Philippines (2012) [PDF, 4.0 MB]
Climate-induced migration should not be treated in isolation. This is because many of the drivers of migration are intertwined. Properly managed and supported migration – both internal and cross-border – can often improve livelihoods, reduce poverty, meet labor force needs, bolster economies, and strengthen links between communities and countries.
- Technical assistance for policy options to support climate-induced migration, TA 7408−REG, Asian Development Bank, Philippines (2009)
- Environmental concerns and international migration, Hugo, G, International Migration Review, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 105-131 (1996)
Check out this week’s Climate Change Adaptation blog: Climate Related Migration in Asia and the Pacific.
ENERGY SECURITY: Rio+20 Earth Summit results in nonbinding declaration with moderate goals, Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post (22 June 2012)
For some 40 (+/- 5) % of the world’s people, energy insecurity is perpetual – no electricity or modern cooking/heating fuels, or at best intermittent or rationed. At the Rio+20 Conference, the game of fooling or fooling around on energy was put on hold. Still, some people may count on sustainable energy, for all commitments, and go on next to Sustainable Development Goals – for the next decade or century, forever. Time to begin real work.
- Rio+20: Ban announces more than 100 commitments on sustainable energy, UN News Service (21 June 2012)
- Sustainable energy for all commitments – Highlights for Rio+20
- The future we want, Final document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (22 June 2012)
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Local governments to demand change at utility shareholders’ meetings, Asahi Shimbun (26 June 2012)
Local governments plan to demand reforms from Japan’s regional power companies at general shareholders’ meetings this week. In Tokyo, nearly 20,000 people protested the nuclear restart, as the Assembly rejected a petition for a national referendum on the future of nuclear plants. A new amendment listing “security guarantees” as a goal in pursuing nuclear power has raised concerns that Japan may begin pursuing nuclear weapons.
- Nukes away: Thousands protest Japan’s return to atomic energy, RT News (24 June 2012)
- Tokyo assembly votes down nuclear referendum ordinance, Asahi Shimbun (21 June 2012)
- Japan hinting at using nuclear power for ‘security’ instead of energy, Jung Nam-ku and Gil Yun-hyung, Hankyoreh (22 June 2012)
AUSTRAL PEACE AND SECURITY: U.S. eyes return to some Southeast Asia military bases, Craig Whitlock, Washington Post (23 June 2012)
As the Obama administration revamps its Asian strategy in response to a rising China, the U.S. military is eyeing a return to some familiar bases from the Vietnam War. US officials are have entered discussions or made agreements for air, naval, ground or drone deployments with Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia. Pentagon leaders said one of their highest strategic priorities is to improve their surveillance of shipping traffic and military movements throughout Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
- US to boost Philippines defense, Daxim L. Lucas, Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network, AsiaOne (9 June 2012)
- Thailand says it won’t meet deadline for decision on NASA request to use key air base, Associated Press, Washington Post (26 June 2012)
- Baseless controversy over Thailand’s U-Tapao, John Cole and Steve Sciacchitano, Asia Times (22 June 2012)
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Editor
Contributors
- Deterrence: Peter Hayes
- Governance and Civil Society: Yi Kiho, Dyana Mardon
- Climate Change Adaptation: Saleem Janjua
- DPRK: Roger Cavazos
- Energy Security: Nikhil Desai
- Climate Change and Security: Richard Tanter