Nautilus Peace and Security Weekly

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"Nautilus Peace and Security Weekly", NAPSNet Weekly Report, June 27, 2012, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/nautilus-peace-and-security-weekly-10/

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

See this week’s blog from our Climate Change Adaptation contributor, Saleem Janjua.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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