Latest news with #SEANWFZTreaty
The Star
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Malaysia urges nuclear-weapon states to sign, ratify SEANWFZ protocol, says DPM Fadillah
JOHOR BARU: Malaysia has urged nuclear-weapon states to sign and ratify the Protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty without delay, calling it a vital pillar of regional peace, mutual trust and long-term security. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said a strong and enforceable nuclear-weapon-free zone is crucial to maintaining stability and safeguarding the future of the region. "Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to the SEANWFZ Treaty. We urge nuclear-weapon states to sign and ratify the Protocol without delay," he said when opening the 12th Annual Meeting of the Asean Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM) here Monday (Aug 11). On nuclear energy, Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the government is undertaking a structured assessment to examine the role of nuclear power as a potential option for clean, stable and competitive electricity within Malaysia's future energy mix. The assessment, aligned with the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), is aimed at diversifying energy sources, strengthening long-term energy security, reducing carbon emissions and cutting dependence on fossil fuels. The Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (Nepio), under MyPower Corporation, has been tasked with coordinating preparatory efforts in line with guidelines by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In a related development, Fadillah announced that the Atomic Energy Department of Malaysia will launch the Gamma Spectrometry Water Monitoring System (GSWMS) under the 12th Malaysia Plan, a technology designed to enhance the nation's capacity to detect and respond swiftly to any radiological threats in water sources. He also emphasised that the deployment of nuclear energy and advanced technologies must be supported by strong regulatory frameworks, rigorous safety protocols and transparent international cooperation. "Our cooperation under ASEANTOM is not merely technical, it is deeply strategic. It reflects our shared responsibility to ensure that atomic energy serves sustainable development, strengthens regional stability and secures the well-being of our future generations," he added. The two-day meeting gathers regulators from Asean member states, the IAEA and dialogue partners to discuss regional nuclear safety, security and safeguards. - Bernama
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
China's nuclear weapons ploy is a war signal from Xi
On July 3, China's foreign ministry signaled that Beijing would sign the protocol to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, or Bangkok Treaty of 1995. Russia is also ready to ink the protocol according to sources. Some believe the U.S. is also considering doing so. Beijing and Moscow suddenly deciding to sign the protocol is not an indication that peace is breaking out in that volatile portion of the world. On the contrary, the willingness to join looks like a war signal. 'As [the Association of South East Asian Nations'] comprehensive strategic partner and friendly neighbor, China firmly supports establishing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone,' said Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, at her regular press conference. 'We have said more than once that China is ready to take the lead in signing the protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty. We will maintain communication with ASEAN countries on this matter.' The Bangkok Treaty is a pact signed by all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The treaty, according to the association, is 'a commitment to preserve the Southeast Asian region as a region free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.' Moreover, through the treaty, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 'reaffirms the importance' of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty established the world's third nuclear weapons-free zone. There are now five in total. The other zones cover Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Africa and Central Asia. It also includes a protocol designed to be signed by the five states permitted by the non-proliferation treaty to possess nuclear weapons. The protocol, among other things, prohibits the use or threats to use nuclear weapons in the zone. So far, none of the five nuclear weapons states has signed on. So what's the harm in a nuclear weapons state signing the protocol? 'China and Russia had previously proposed a nuclear weapon-free zone for the Middle East to pressure Israel to give up its nuclear forces and to prevent the U.S. from deploying such weapons in the area,' Peter Huessy of the National Institute for Deterrence Studies told me this month. 'Now, Beijing and Moscow are playing the same game in Southeast Asia, which would make the area free for them to deploy surreptitiously their own nuclear forces.' After Beijing's July 3 announcement, Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center told me: 'The only reason for the Chinese Communist Party to sign the [protocol] is that it is getting closer to using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against Taiwan or the Philippines.' 'The treaty provides no real protection from Chinese nuclear weapons, but it would forbid U.S.-ally Philippines from permitting America to base nuclear weapons on its territory for the purpose of deterring or defeating a Chinese nuclear attack or an actual Chinese invasion of the Philippine island of Palawan, a threat for which Manila and Washington have been preparing,' said Fisher. 'As China gets closer to its war to destroy democracy in Taiwan, it wants to use the nuclear weapon-free zone to prevent the U.S. from deploying these weapons to defend that island republic too.' Fisher pointed out that China, with its ballistic missile submarines alone, will have, according to his median estimate, somewhere between 216 to 720 nuclear warheads 'on Southeast Asia's doorstep' by 2035. 'It's not clear to me how a country undertaking the largest nuclear arms build-up has the gall to push a nuclear-free zone treaty when it's busy deploying seaborne nuclear weapons all over the place,' said Huessy, who is also president of GeoStrategic Analysis. As both Huessy and Fisher noted, China has long been planning to wage war in East Asia. For instance, Xi Jinping has been issuing bellicose rhetoric lately. His favorite phrase these days is 'dare to fight.' He is doing more than just talking, however. Xi is engaged in the fastest military buildup since World War II. He has also been sanctions-proof his regime, stockpiling grain and other commodities, firing uniformed officers opposed to going to war and calling up reservists and mobilizing civilians for battle. Given significant war preparations, it's unlikely Beijing's willingness to sign the protocol to the Bangkok Treaty is the result of peaceful intentions. There is also a larger issue involving China's compliance with treaty obligations. Take Beijing's core promise not to spread nuclear weapons technology. Beginning in the 1970s, China proliferated that technology to Pakistan. As Huessy pointed out, Pakistan, through the A.Q. Khan black-market ring, then merchandised the Chinese tech to North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Libya. So why should the international community trust Beijing to honor the protocol when it violated its obligation to not proliferate nuclear weapons? In reality, treaties with China are one-way. Beijing expects others to honor their promises while it feels free to violate its obligations. So let Beijing and Moscow sign the protocol to the Bangkok Treaty, but the United States should not do so. Countries in the region rely on the American 'nuclear umbrella,' Washington's guarantee to use its most destructive weapons to protect them from attack. This is no time to call into question this critical commitment for U.S. friends and partners throughout East Asia.
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
SEANWFZ's real challenge is to stop the Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock was moved forward by one second to 89 seconds before midnight last January, signalling that the world is getting closer to an unprecedented catastrophe. The clock, which considers various existential threats, especially nuclear war, was last moved in January 2023, when the time was set at 90 seconds to midnight. Although largely symbolic, the Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board (SASB), has since its creation in 1947, served as a credible reminder of the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction. The SASB justified the one-second adjustment to the clock by highlighting the growing threat of nuclear conflict due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the never-ending conflict in the Middle East and inadequate contacts among nuclear powers and the collapse of the nuclear arms control process. As the Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight, Asean must intensify its efforts to convince nuclear powers to acknowledge the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ). As pointed out by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan in his opening remarks before the meeting of the SEANWFZ Commission on July 8, "it is deeply concerning" that SEANWFZ is the only nuclear weapon-free zone that has not been formally recognised by the nuclear powers. However, the efforts to win the recognition of nuclear powers must go beyond symbolic gestures. Concrete and practical steps are necessary to ensure the SEANWFZ Treaty can be a meaningful tool to ensure regional peace and stability. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono's call for Asean to focus on concluding a clear memorandum and timeline with China offers a practical path to building the pressure needed for broader recognition of the treaty. China has stated its readiness to sign the SEANWFZ Protocol. Besides China, another Nuclear Weapon State (NWS) under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Russia, has reportedly expressed its intent to join the treaty, while the United States is in the process of assessing its potential participation. Given the devastating reach of nuclear weapons, expanding the geographic coverage of the SEANWFZ may be a strategic way to transform it into a more meaningful force for peace and stability. It is not a straightforward process, but this will be partly achieved later this year. With Timor-Leste's accession to Asean, the geographical coverage of the treaty will be expanded. This is a strategic gain for Asean. Extending the treaty into the Timor Sea brings the SEANWFZ nearer to a region shaped by the strategic interests of two NWS, the United States and the United Kingdom. Beyond Southeast Asia, the treaty's objective can also be achieved by collaborating with other similar nuclear-free zones, as suggested by Mohamad in his remarks after the SEANWFZ Commission meeting. When weapons of mass destruction were last used, Southeast Asia was a direct beneficiary. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan's surrender, bringing peace and stability back to Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The potential use of weapons of mass destruction today may be governed by a more robust military doctrine and safeguards compared to August 1945, but modern nuclear weapons could potentially be more devastating than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Having once benefited from the use of weapons of mass destruction, Malaysia, as Asean Chair, now bears the moral responsibility together with other member states to maintain a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia and to convince nuclear powers that the horrors of August 1945 remain in the past. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the SEANWFZ. It is not just the foundation of Asean's security architecture but an important manifestation of Asean unity.] It is one of the organisation's success stories, but a glorious past is meaningless if it cannot stop a global catastrophe. To remain relevant, the SEANWFZ needs to be accepted by the five NWS. In the long term, the treaty will only be judged by its ability to stop the Doomsday Clock from moving closer to midnight.
Malaysian Reserve
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
SEANWFZ's real challenge is to stop the Doomsday Clock
THE Doomsday Clock was moved forward by one second to 89 seconds before midnight last January, signalling that the world is getting closer to an unprecedented catastrophe. The clock, which considers various existential threats, especially nuclear war, was last moved in January 2023, when the time was set at 90 seconds to midnight. Although largely symbolic, the Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board (SASB) has since its creation in 1947, served as a credible reminder of the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction. The SASB justified the one-second adjustment to the clock by highlighting the growing threat of nuclear conflict due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the never-ending conflict in the Middle East and inadequate contacts among nuclear powers and the collapse of the nuclear arms control process. As the Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight, ASEAN must intensify its efforts to convince nuclear powers to acknowledge the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ). As pointed out by Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan on July 8, 'it is deeply concerning' that SEANWFZ is the only nuclear weapon-free zone that has not been formally recognised by the nuclear powers. However, the efforts to win the recognition of nuclear powers must go beyond symbolic gestures. Concrete and practical steps are necessary to ensure the SEANWFZ Treaty can be a meaningful tool to ensure regional peace and stability. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono's call for ASEAN to focus on concluding a clear memorandum and timeline with China offers a practical path to building the pressure needed for broader recognition of the treaty. China has stated readiness to sign the SEANWFZ Protocol. Besides China, another Nuclear Weapon State (NWS) under the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) Russia, has reportedly expressed its intent to join the treaty, while the US is in the process of assessing its potential participation. Given the devastating reach of nuclear weapons, expanding the geographic coverage of the SEANWFZ may be a strategic way to transform it into a more meaningful force for peace and stability. It is not a straightforward process, but this will be partly achieved later this year. With Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, the geographical coverage of the treaty will be expanded. This is a strategic gain for ASEAN. Extending the treaty into the Timor Sea brings the SEANWFZ nearer to a region shaped by the strategic interests of two NWS, the US and the UK. Beyond Southeast Asia, the treaty's objective can also be achieved by collaborating with other similar nuclear free zones as suggested by Mohamad in his remarks after the SEANWFZ Commission meeting. When weapons of mass destruction were last used, Southeast Asia was a direct beneficiary. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan's surrender, bringing peace and stability back to Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The potential use of weapons of mass destruction today may be governed by a more robust military doctrine and safeguards compared to August 1945, but modern nuclear weapons could potentially be more devastating than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Having once benefited from the use of weapons of mass destruction, Malaysia as ASEAN Chair now bears the moral responsibility together with other member states to maintain a nuclear weapon free Southeast Asia and to convince nuclear powers that the horrors of August 1945 remain in the past. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the SEANWFZ. It is not just the foundation of ASEAN's security architecture but an important manifestation of ASEAN unity. It is one of the organisation's success stories, but a glorious past is meaningless if it cannot stop a global catastrophe. To remain relevant, the SEANWFZ needs to be accepted by the five NWS. In the long term, the treaty will only be judged by its ability to stop the Doomsday Clock from moving closer to midnight. Adib Zalkapli is the Managing Director of Viewfinder Global Affairs, a Malaysia-based geopolitical advisory firm.
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Russia to open doors to more Malaysian students, including TVET trainees
KUALA LUMPUR: Russia has agreed to accept more Malaysian students, including those pursuing technical and vocational education. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the collaboration aligned with Malaysia's national policy to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). "I expressed our hope to secure more placements for our students, and he agreed. "He said, 'Write me a letter, and I'll take care of it'," Mohamad told reporters after the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with Russia. The high-level meeting was attended by Mohamad's Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and the Russian delegation. On regional matters, Mohamad said Russia was also considering signing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty. Russia is one of the five nuclear-armed states under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Earlier today, China expressed its commitment to sign the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservations as soon as possible, while Timor-Leste has agreed to accede to the treaty at the upcoming Asean Summit in October. Mohamad previously said that the United States was still reviewing the treaty. The SEANWFZ Treaty, also known as the Bangkok Treaty, was signed on Dec 15, 1995 by all 10 Asean member states and was registered with the United Nations on June 27, 1997.
