Nuclear nonproliferation strategy in Asia

Book · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6586560

Yager, J A

The most immediate danger of a further spread of nuclear weapons in Asia is in South Asia, where both India and Pakistan have developed the means of producing nuclear explosive materials. In East Asia, North Korea appears to be in the early stages of a weapon-related nuclear program, and before the end of the century South Korea or Taiwan could revive their past efforts to move closer to a nuclear weapons capability. Over the longer run, Japan could conceivably decide to abandon its present strong opposition to the acquisition of nuclear weapons. At present, the United States has largely separate approaches to the nuclear weapons proliferation problems in South Asia and in East Asia. This paper argues that these separate approaches should be strengthened and integrated into a broader regional nonproliferation strategy. This regional strategy would have three major strands: inducing India and Pakistan to agree not to produce nuclear weapons or test nuclear explosive devices for a specific period; blostering the existing nonproliferation regime, principally by maintaining nonproliferation incentives and involving China more in the nonproliferation regime; and encouraging regional cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

• OSTI ID: 6586560
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350100 -- Arms Control-- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation-- (1987-)
350200* -- Arms Control-- Proliferation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ASIA
CHINA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INDIA
JAPAN
NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH KOREA
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PAKISTAN
PROLIFERATION
USA
WEAPONS