Implications of Indian and/or Japanese Nuclear Proliferation for U.S. Defense Policy Planning

Implications of Indian and/or Japanese Nuclear Proliferation for U.S. Defense Policy Planning


Author/Editor: R. M. Lawrence, W. R. Van Cleave, and S. E. Young

Publisher/Sponsor: Advanced Research Projects Agency
Supplier: Strategic Studies Center
Report Date: January 1974
Document Number:
Classification:
Nautilus Filing Number: 1275
Box Number: 37
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Description:

Iran, North Korea, and Libya are all suspected or have acknowledged their pursuit of a nuclear deterrent. In this context, this report written by the Strategic Studies Center only a few months before India would test its first nuclear weapon, is particularly significant.

“The study indicates that the interest in nonproliferation [in India and Japan] is subordinate to most of the other interests…” [page 3]. The report concludes that US policy on Indian and/or Japanese nuclear proliferation should be based on whether, “proliferation occur[s] in the Asian-Pacific Theater in a way that will alter the balance of power leading to U.S. inferiority or enhance the balance and thus contribute to political stability among the super- and near superpowers.” [page 11]

The report considers proliferation in Japan and India in the context of the impact that these states going nuclear would have on the balance of power in Asia.
This report was released to the Nautilus Institute under the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).