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This week, we share Prime Minister Anthony Albanese‘s response to our open letter calling for his leadership on nuclear risk reduction in the region.
We also kick off the year with an APLN Korea Times column by Shatabhisha Shetty on how to address nuclear risks in 2024 despite worsening geopolitical dynamics and share a new job opening on our team.
As always, we highlight recent activities from our network, including analysis on the Yoon administration’s policy progress, the Sino-Indian border, and Japan’s Rokkasho reprocessing plant. |
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Response to APLN’s Australian Open Letter
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“As long as nuclear weapons exist, there is an onus on all Governments to work on reducing the risks of their use, and to reinforce non-proliferation.”
-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in his letter to APLN
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| In November, fifteen Australian APLN members signed an open letter calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take the lead in addressing the rising nuclear threats in the Asia-Pacific.
Their call was heard: APLN received a response from the Prime Minister, who reaffirmed his support for the global non-proliferation agenda and reiterated his commitments made at the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue. He went on to say that his government is seeking ways to further explore avenues for non-proliferation work and would welcome APLN’s input.
We are pleased to begin the year with this positive response from the Prime Minister and look forward to working more closely with the Albanese government to reduce the risks posed by nuclear weapons. |
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Asia-Pacific Nuclear Nexus in 2024
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| In this Korea Times column, APLN Executive Director Shatabhisha Shetty highlights the growing nuclear risks in 2024 amidst global geopolitical volatility, emphasizing the crucial role of organizations and middle-power countries in fostering inclusive collaborations and diverse perspectives to address these challenges. |
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Job Opportunity: Operations Manager
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We are seeking to recruit a highly organised and experienced Operations Manager. You will play a critical role in managing APLN’s human resources and general operations and will work alongside the Executive Director on governance, fundraising and financial management.
Please note that applicants must be based in South Korea.
To apply and for more information on the role, please contact Mr. Yoon-soo Kim at kimys@apln.network. |
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APLN has over 150 members from 22 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.
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| On January 31st, 12PM (EST), APLN Vice Chair Chung-in Moon will give remarks at a program co-hosted by The Korea Society and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) on the future of Korean Peninsula security and suggestions for de-escalation and preventive diplomacy. He will be joined by NCAFP Director for Asia, Susan A. Thornton. |
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| Manpreet Sethi, APLN Senior Research Adviser, reflected on 2023 and offered some nuclear observations for India and the world. She highlighted that India should proactively participate in all efforts aimed at nuclear risk recognition, reduction, and mitigation. |
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| C. Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, shared his views on the international risks and challenges anticipated in the New Year. Additionally, he analyzed the potential impact of wars and tensions on India in 2024, discussing the necessary strategies to navigate challenging times in world politics. |
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| Chung-in Moon, APLN Vice Chair, analysed whether the Yoon administration has been successful in achieving the three major foreign affairs and national security policy objectives: survival (security), prosperity (the national interest), and national prestige. |
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| Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy, and Technology, wrote for the Diplomat on the Indian MOD’s year end review 2023. She argued that given the state of bilateral relations between India and China, New Delhi is doubling down on its efforts regarding strategic border infrastructure. |
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| Tatsujiro Suzuki, Vice Director and Professor of the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition at Nagasaki University, wrote on the five underlying reasons for the postponements of Japan’s long-delayed Rokkasho reprocessing plant and assessed whether Japan’s new plutonium capping policy will have any real impact. |
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| Eunjung Lim, Associate Professor at the Division of International Studies at Kongju National University, was quoted in the Deutsche Welle, where she commented on South Korea’s worsening political polarization and the high stakes ahead of the election scheduled for April 10. |
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| Rajaram Panda, former Senior Fellow at Pradhanmantri Memorial Museum and Library (PMML), New Delhi, wrote about the geopolitical risk in East Asia, arguing that the solution lies in pursuing dialogue-oriented diplomacy with security-related approaches from all stakeholders. |
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| Rakesh Sood, former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Afghanistan and France, argued that the global nuclear order, much like any global order, requires convergence among major powers, which is currently absent, along with the capability to effectively present the outcomes as a global public good to the rest of the world. |
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