July 2024 in Review at APLN

5 Aug 2024 | APLN

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In July, China suspended nuclear talks with the US in response to US arms sales to Taiwan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to resume the production of intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles. These developments come against the backdrop of the Second Session of the NPT PrepCom, which reviews progress against the NPT’s treaty goals ahead of the 2026 RevCon.

At this time, APLN members discussed actions that could be taken to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Marianne Hanson urged NPT member states to take serious steps to implement risk reduction measures. Melissa Parke explored how the TPNW can fulfil the NPT’s disarmament obligations. Cathy Moloney identified three areas where Australia can promote nuclear disarmament in the absence of arms control negotiations.

Also in July, we published the last two papers from our project on Reducing the Risk of Nuclear Weapon Use in Northeast Asia. Benjamin Zala shared his analysis on the growing nuclear-conventional entanglement risks in the Asia-Pacific region, and I contributed an introductory essay for the Special Section of the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, summarising the findings from this project.

We also secured a new grant from the Ploughshares Fund for the third year of our Voices from the Pacific Islands project. This continued support allows us to continue raising awareness of the impact of nuclear and climate risks in the Pacific, whilst exploring ways to future-proof the Asia-Pacific region against threats posed by geopolitical competition and growing militarization.

As always, I am grateful for your continued support and look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions.

Kind regards,

Shatabhisha Shetty
APLN Executive Director

Share your Feedback

Can the 2024 Preparatory Committee Meeting Save the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Marianne Hanson highlights the challenges facing the second PrepCom for the 2026 NPT Review Conference, noting increased tensions between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, stalled disarmament efforts, and deteriorating prospects for a Middle East WMD-free zone, all of which threaten the NPT’s viability and international security.

Read the commentary

Why South Korea Should Embrace the
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

As the nuclear armament debate continues in South Korea, ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke elaborates on how the TPNW can strengthen the “nuclear taboo”, reinforce the fragile nuclear non-proliferation regime, and help pave the way to a nuclear-weapon-free world. She urges South Korea to join the global disarmament efforts and support the treaty, in light of its historical memories of nuclear harm and regional security challenges.

Read the Korea Times column

Australia’s Role in the Evolving Nuclear
Arms Control Landscape

Cathy Moloney argues that non-nuclear weapon states can still make significant contributions to global disarmament and stability, despite the challenges. She highlights Australia’s strong non-proliferation credentials and suggests that the country can play a pivotal role by strengthening diplomatic efforts, persisting with support for existing norms and treaties, and supporting US extended deterrence.

Read the Korea Times column

Introduction: Reducing the Risk of Nuclear Weapons Use
in Northeast Asia

APLN Executive Director Shatabhisha Shetty writes an introductory essay for the Special Section of the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, discussing the findings from the three-year project undertaken by APLN in collaboration with the Nautilus Institute, and RECNA-Nagasaki University. The paper highlights the Year three expert essays and analyses including recommendations for narrowing the space for nuclear use through mutual threat reduction and situational risk reduction.

Read the Special Report

Nuclear-Conventional Entanglement in Northeast Asia:
The Case for Crisis Management Interoperability

In this report, Benjamin Zala surveys the growing nuclear-conventional entanglement risks in Northeast Asia as well as how entanglement is driving a new era of nuclear arms racing in response. Given the high likelihood of nuclear crises in Northeast Asia, he advocates for developing “crisis management interoperability” between allies armed with nuclear and strategic non-nuclear weapons, and stresses the need for a greater emphasis on assurance policies to complement the current focus on deterrent threats.

Read the Special Report

APLN has received a renewed grant from the Ploughshares Fund to continue our work in providing a platform for voices from the Pacific Islands and raising global awareness of the shared responsibility to address human and environmental security challenges across the region.

This year, our focus is on strengthening collaboration with individuals and organizations in the Pacific to raise awareness of the impacts of nuclear and climate risks. We also aim to expand our dialogue with partners in Asia to explore strategies for protecting the Asia-Pacific region from the threats posed by US-China geopolitical tensions and increasing militarization.

Learn more about the project

Russia and DPRK Mutual Defence Pact: Implications for Northeast Asia’s Regional Security Dynamics

19 July | Sandip Mishra argues that the Russia-DPRK agreement reflects Russia’s resistance to Western geopolitical pressures and its broader strategy to challenge the US-led global order. It appears to reinforce the division of the international system into opposing camps, thereby further reducing the space for diplomacy and collaborative security measures.

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