| Dear Friends and Colleagues,
This month, as part of the International Group of Eminent Persons (IGEP), I and three other APLN members had the honour of joining the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo, where we agreed on recommendations for next year’s NPT Review Conference.
Earlier this month, the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was held at the UN headquarters in New York. APLN Member and ICAN Executive Director, Melissa Parke reflected on the TPNW’s role in providing a path towards nuclear disarmament. Kazuko Ito criticised Japan’s decision to forgo participation in the 3MSP, calling upon Tokyo to take a more active role in global disarmament initiatives, and Kim Won-soo, former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, emphasised the urgency of rebuilding trust in the global nuclear order.
This month, we held our annual Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations in Seoul, attended by twenty-five senior experts and many APLN members, who explored perspectives from regional states on the growing tensions between China and the United States. As a part of this Dialogue, we also released a report by Shao Yuqun, where she offered recommendations for China to strengthen its potential as a stabilising force in Asia.
Additionally, we marked International Women’s Day by inviting five experts to examine ongoing initiatives to advance gender equality and expand leadership opportunities for women in the field to promote diverse perspectives in shaping security policies.
We deeply appreciate your ongoing support and invite you to share any thoughts on potential collaborations, funding opportunities, network expansion, or research initiatives. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any suggestions. |
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| Kind regards,
Manpreet Sethi
APLN Acting Director |
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The Sixth Meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World Without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP)
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On March 30 and 31, the sixth meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World Without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP) was held in Tokyo. Four APLN members participated in the meeting:
- Manpreet Sethi, APLN Acting Director; Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies
- Tanya Ogilvie-White, APLN Senior Research Adviser
- Nobumasa Akiyama, Professor, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University; Director of Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology, Japan Institute of International Affairs; APLN Senior Associate Fellow
- Tong Zhao, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The group recommended five principles and several recommendations to prevent nuclear war, stop arms racing and proliferation, and work for a constructive NPT Review Conference in 2026. The group members called upon Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and had a breakfast meeting with former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who had started this initiative.
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Nuclear Arms Control Architecture on Life Support
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Kim Won-soo, former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, warns of rising nuclear risks amid geopolitical tensions and urges the five nuclear-weapon states (N-5), umbrella states, and civil society to take immediate steps to rebuild trust and bolster the global nuclear disarmament and arms control framework ahead of 2026, as the NPT regime faces a critical juncture and the New START treaty approaches expiration.
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A United Voice Against Nuclear Weapons
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| ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke reflects on the 3MSP, which took place from 3-7 March, 2025 in New York. She argues that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) offers a viable path to elimination of nuclear weapons, as demonstrated by countries like Kazakhstan and South Africa, which have relinquished their nuclear arsenals in the past. She stresses that nuclear disarmament is not a utopian dream but a political challenge that can be overcome with responsible leadership, strong resolve, and global cooperation. |
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Hibakusha’s Call: Japan and the TPNW
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| Kazuko Ito argues that Japan, as the only country to have suffered from nuclear bombing, must take a leading role in nuclear disarmament by joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) or at least becoming an observer state. Finding the Japanese government’s decision to not participate in the Third Meeting of States Parties unconvincing, she calls on Japan to align with the moral stance of hibakusha and adopt a diplomatic strategy toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. |
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APLN Seoul Conference – Examining Regional Responses to Major Power Dynamics
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On 20-21 March, APLN hosted a conference in Seoul as part of its project on Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations and its implications for regional stability. Twenty-five experts discussed the differing conceptions of multipolarity, the role of minilateral arrangements among regional states, and how states exercise agency to advance their interests, and influence the behaviour of China and the United States.
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China as a Provider of Regional Stability in the Asia-Pacific: Balancing Security and Development
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Shao Yuqun argues that in managing the “competitive aspects” of China-US relations, China should resolutely prevent a geopolitical zero-sum game with the United States and take the lead in establishing effective strategic, diplomatic and military communication between the two sides. She offers four recommendations for China to strengthen its role as a stabilising force in the region: avoiding over-securitisation, enhancing strategic communication with regional neighbours, continuing to support ASEAN-led multilateral mechanisms, and de-limiting the competitive aspects of US-China relations.
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International Women’s Day: Accelerating Gender Equality in International Security
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| To mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, we asked five experts to share their insights on ongoing efforts to advance gender equality and expand leadership opportunities for women in international security. Dongyoun Cho, Maria Tanyag, Jiyoung Ko, Ariel Phuphaphatakarn and Innocentia Atchaya discuss additional steps needed to further these efforts and accelerate action. |
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