| Dear Friends and Colleagues,
On 28 January, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe, underscoring among others, the existential threat from nuclear weapons and the urgent need for disarmament.
In light of this announcement, we invited APLN members Ganewati Wuryandari, Melissa Parke, Amit Sharma, and Lim Eunjung to analyse how the Doomsday Clock warning echoes in the Asia-Pacific region and to outline policy priorities to address the growing threats. APLN Chair Marty Natalegawa reflects on the distinct shift in regional security dynamics from 2011 to 2025, in the first APLN Korea Times column of the year. We also published an interpretive essay by Desmond Doulatram, highlighting the pivotal role of women as peacemakers in advocating for nuclear justice, within the cultural, historical, and political context of the Marshall Islands.
As regards this month’s project activities, we hosted a one-day workshop in Tokyo, where experts shared their insights on how the understanding of strategic stability and deterrence in Northeast Asia has evolved in recent years, and what policy solutions can address the concurrent challenges. We also announced our upcoming webinar on 20 February, which will examine how Cross-Strait relations are expected to evolve under the Trump 2.0 administration. I look forward to your participation.
Finally, as I plan to take time off over the next few months on maternity leave, my esteemed colleague Manpreet Sethi will be stepping in as Acting Director, capably leading APLN in my stead. Thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to reconnecting with you upon my return. |
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| Kind regards,
Shatabhisha Shetty
APLN Executive Director |
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It’s 89 Seconds to Midnight: The 2025 Doomsday Clock
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| In light of the 2025 Doomsday Clock announcement, APLN members Ganewati Wuryandari, Melissa Parke, Amit Sharma, and Lim Eunjung reflect on how the Doomsday Clock warning echoes in the Asia-Pacific region and recommend policies which need to be prioritised in order to address the interlinked threats of nuclear proliferation, geopolitical conflicts, and climate change. |
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Generating Positive Security Dynamics: From 2011 to 2025
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| APLN Chair Marty Natalegawa reflects on the relatively cooperative and diplomacy-driven security dynamics of 2011, when APLN was established, and contrasts them with the fragmented, trust-deficient, and increasingly polarized landscape of 2025, emphasising the critical role of deliberate policy choices in shaping these outcomes. |
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Kora Lejmanjuri: Women are the Peacemakers
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| Desmond Doulatram explores the pivotal role of women as peacemakers, or “Lejmanjuri,” within the cultural, historical, and political context of the Marshall Islands, emphasising their integral connection to the idea of nuclear justice. By examining the matrilineal traditions and the enduring influence of female leaders in conflict resolution, environmental sustainability, and nuclear activism, he counters Western narratives that often overshadow indigenous voices with White privilege and saviorism. |
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| On 20 January, APLN organized a workshop in Tokyo with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), where experts explored how Japanese and South Korean understandings of strategic stability have evolved in recent years. APLN members Nobumasa Akiyama, Cho Hyun, Jun Bong-geun, Kim Won-soo, Mitsuru Kitano, and Sanghyun Lee were joined by several regional experts for the workshop. |
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Trump and the Cross-Strait Status Quo – views from Taiwan, ASEAN and the US
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| Join us on 20 February at 10AM KST for a webinar on how to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, under the second Trump administration. Kristy Hsu will discuss her APLN report with experts including Anne Hsiao, Ja Ian Chong, and APLN Senior Research Adviser Frank O’Donnell. The discussion will be moderated by APLN Policy Fellow Joel Petersson Ivre.
This webinar will be hosted by the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN) in cooperation with Taiwan-ASEAN Studies Center at Chung-Hua Institution of Economic Research. |
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| On 8-9 February, APLN members Kazuko Ito, Akira Kawasaki, Chung-in Moon, Tatsujiro Suzuki, and Michiru Nishida will participate in the International Civil Society Forum to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, organised by the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The Forum will be partially live-streamed and archived online for free access. |
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