Special Reports

VINCE SCAPPATURA AND RICHARD TANTER AUGUST 4, 2025 I.  INTRODUCTION Vince Scappatura and Richard Tanter use previously unreported declassified CINCPAC Command Histories and Australian cabinet papers to examine the decisions by the Australian government under Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in the early 1980s to allow the deployment of USAF B-52 Stratofortress bombers. The authors situate both Australian […]

WILLIAM BOOTHBY AND WOLFF HEINTSCHEL VON HEINEGG MAY 26 2025 I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, William Boothby and Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg explain that The Law on Nuclear Weapons: An International Commentary (Elgar, 2025) aims “to ensure that all those involved in nuclear weapon operations understand what their responsibilities are under international law. By this […]

NOVEMBER 10 2024 VINCE SCAPPATURA I.  INTRODUCTION Vince Scappatura documents the novel use of Australian territory in supporting US B-2 bombers en route and in return from strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on October 17, and highlights the profound strategic significance of this event for the future role Australia may play in US strategic […]

VINCE SCAPPATURA AND RICHARD TANTER AUGUST 26 2024   I.  INTRODUCTION Vince Scappatura and Richard Tanter use open-source information to identify US B-52 bombers that are nuclear weapons capable and may visit or be stationed at foreign airfields versus B-52s that are solely able to be armed with conventional, non-nuclear weapons. Where governments, as in […]

JOHN DELURY, MORTON HALPERIN, PETER HAYES, CHUNG-IN MOON, LEON SIGAL, TOM PICKERING APRIL 19 2024 I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, the authors revisit the concept of comprehensive security in Northeast Asia as the guiding principle that should be used to reduce tension, avoid war, and re-engage on a constructive peace-making cooperative security agenda in Northeast […]

BEHAVIORAL ARMS CONTROL AND EAST ASIA ULRICH KÜHN AND HEATHER WILLIAMS APRIL 16 2024 I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, Ulrich Kuhn and Heather Williams suggest that a “Behavioral Arms Control” framework between China and the United States be used to reduce the risk of war by building confidence and developing bilateral arms control initiatives. Ulrich […]

VAN JACKSON MARCH 29 2024 I.  INTRODUCTION This report by Van Jackson argues that Northeast Asia is the epi-center of global nuclear tension with high “nuclear precarity” due to nuclear arms racing, reliance on nuclear signally, and evolving nuclear postures.  The report offers practical policy recommendations for avoiding nuclear war aimed at the governments of Japan, […]

ANASTASIA BARANNIKOVA MARCH 15 2024                                                             I.  INTRODUCTION In this essay, Anastasia Barannikova analyses the DPRK’s hybrid nuclear weapons strategy and argues that its impressive progress was the result of clear strategic planning and a vision of the role of nuclear weapons in the DPRK’s defense strategy. Anastasia Barannikova is a Research Fellow at Laboratory for […]

ANNA HOOD AND MONIQUE CORMIER MARCH 8 2024 I.  INTRODUCTION Anna Hood and Monique Cormier analyse the legality of certain threats under the jus ad bellum regime of international law that regulates recourse to war between states, before turning to consider specific threat examples in the context of the jus in bello regime, which applies […]

ANNA HOOD AND MONIQUE CORMIER MARCH 1 2024 I.  INTRODUCTION Anna Hood and Monique Cormier map existing prohibitions against nuclear threats at international law and seek to explain the scope and remit of such laws.  The essay explains different views and their significance about the way these international laws apply to threats to use nuclear […]