This September, there has been a new momentum for regional cooperation in Asia. China hosted the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin, bringing together leaders from India, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia, among other key Central Asian countries. India’s participation at the summit drew the spotlight, underscoring the region’s complex geopolitical landscape. The 24th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise was held among eleven Indo-Pacific allies and partners, emphasising shared maritime security challenges of the region. China also marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a major military parade attended by Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Shortly thereafter, North Korea announced that its denuclearisation is no longer negotiable, creating new concerns.

Meanwhile, APLN members continued to reflect on these developments. In this month’s APLN Korea Times column, Ambassador Pankaj Saran examined Modi’s visit to China, which he described as a cautious step toward normalising relations while maintaining India’s balanced ties with multiple major powers. Earlier this month, we published a new infographic illustrating how sovereignty, security, sustainable development, and climate action intersect with global power rivalries and militarisation in the Asia-Pacific, offering insights into challenges and opportunities for regional stability. To mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we joined colleagues and civil society organisations in endorsing the Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition Day, urging world leaders to reduce nuclear risks and prevent nuclear war.

We are pleased to welcome Ambassador Robyug Park and Professor Ajin Choi as new members to the APLN Governing Board. We hope to gain from their rich experience and insights. We are also delighted to learn that one of our APLN members, Ambassador Ian Biggs, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2025–2026.

Finally, APLN member Tatsujiro Suzuki and colleagues at the University of Bath will be co-editing a forthcoming special issue of Frontiers in Political Science on the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In support of the call for papers, we encourage scholars from the Asia-Pacific to write on this important issue.

We thank you for your continued support of APLN and welcome your feedback as we look forward to ongoing engagement on these critical issues.

Pankaj Saran, former Deputy National Security Adviser of India and former Ambassador of India to Russia, comments on India’s attendance at the SCO Summit, arguing that Modi’s visit to China signalled cautious steps toward normalisation with Beijing after years of tension, while also underscoring India’s determination to maintain flexible ties with all major powers amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

The Asia-Pacific is navigating a complex landscape where national and regional priorities, such as sovereignty, security, sustainable development, and climate action, are increasingly challenged by global power rivalries, militarisation, and escalating tensions. Our latest infographic unpacks these priorities, pressures, challenges, and opportunities, offering insights into how states can balance competing demands and build pathways towards greater stability and cooperation in the region.

This infographic is based on a roundtable on Asia-Pacific Geopolitics and the US-China Strategic Competition, with experts from the Asia-Pacific, conducted as part of APLN’s project on Voices from the Pacific Island Countries. The project is supported by the Ploughshares Fund.

On the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, we joined colleagues and civil society organisations in endorsing the Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition Day. The Appeal calls on world leaders to reduce nuclear risks and prevent nuclear war, redirect nuclear weapons budgets and investments toward protecting the environment and addressing human and economic needs, and achieve the global elimination of nuclear weapons within a strict timeframe. It was presented to world leaders, including those attending the UN High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament on September 26.

We are delighted to welcome two new members to APLN’s Governing Board:

• Prof. Ajin Choi, Professor in the Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University.
• Amb. Robyug Park, former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament.

We look forward to their engagement and guidance as they undertake the responsibilities of the Governing Board which include attending Board meetings, voting to ensure resolutions are legally binding, providing guidance on APLN’s work program, activities, and research, as well as upholding high standards of accountability, transparency, and operational effectiveness.

APLN warmly congratulates its member Ambassador Ian Biggs on his appointment as the new Chairperson of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2025–2026.

Ambassador Biggs brings over four decades of diplomatic experience and is recognised for his deep expertise in international security, arms control, and counter-proliferation. He assumed office on 22 September and as Chair will oversee deliberations on safeguards implementation, financial matters, and new initiatives that promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy while upholding non-proliferation obligations.

APLN extends all good wishes for his tenure in this important appointment.

On September 4, APLN members Manpreet Sethi, Michiru Nishida, Hwang Yong-soo, Angela Woodward, Alvin Chew, Senior Policy Fellow Joel Petersson Ivre and Associate Fellow Karla Mae Pabeliña met in Seoul and engaged in in-depth discussions on pressing issues related to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, exchanging insights on global and regional security trends and reflecting on opportunities for collaboration.

On September 15, APLN Senior Policy Fellow Tanvi Kulkarni spoke on the “Tensions Rise in South Asia” panel at the 14th Consultative Meeting of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium in Brussels, where she discussed key security challenges driving tensions in South Asia alongside Ettore Greco, Nicolas Blarel, Jagannath Panda, and Haleema Saadia. The event was organised by the Foundation for Strategic Research.

On September 16, APLN Governing Board members Robyug Park, Ajin Choi, Eunjung Lim, and Senior Policy Fellow Joel Petersson Ivre met experts from Normandy for Peace in Seoul to discuss geopolitical dynamics in Asia. The meeting offered a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives on regional security challenges and explore potential future collaborations.

The legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to shape debates on nuclear weapons, deterrence, and disarmament. A special issue of Frontiers in Political Science, co-edited by APLN Member Tatsujiro Suzuki together with Timo Kivimäki and colleagues at the University of Bath, invites contributions that critically examine the historical, ethical, legal, and political dimensions of the 1945 bombings and their relevance for today’s world.

To gather further insights into these complex issues, the journal welcomes articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Re-evaluation of the historical interpretations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• The effectiveness and ethical and legal implications of using nuclear weapons against civilian populations.
• The influence of past nuclear events on modern deterrence and arms control policies.
• Analysis of nuclear proliferation risks and opportunities in contemporary geopolitics.
• Interdisciplinary approaches to the legacy of nuclear weapons use and its impact on peace and conflict studies.

Contributions are encouraged across diverse fields and methodologies to stimulate a multifaceted discussion on this pivotal topic. Article types can include original research, reviews, and theoretical papers.