Asia's Latent Nuclear Powers: Japan, South Korea And Taiwan (adelphi Series)
by Mark Fitzpatrick /
2016 / English / PDF
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If the nuclear weapons club were to further expand, would
America’s democratic allies in Northeast Asia be among the next
entrants? Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all have robust civilian
nuclear energy programmes that make them ‘virtual nuclear powers’
according to many analysts. All three once pursued nuclear
weapons and all face growing security threats from nuclear-armed
adversaries. But will they – or rather, under what circumstances
might they?
If the nuclear weapons club were to further expand, would
America’s democratic allies in Northeast Asia be among the next
entrants? Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all have robust civilian
nuclear energy programmes that make them ‘virtual nuclear powers’
according to many analysts. All three once pursued nuclear
weapons and all face growing security threats from nuclear-armed
adversaries. But will they – or rather, under what circumstances
might they?
This book analyses these past nuclear pursuits and current
proliferation drivers. In explaining the nuclear technology that
the three now possess, it considers how long it would take each
to build a nuclear weapon if such a fateful decision were made.
This book analyses these past nuclear pursuits and current
proliferation drivers. In explaining the nuclear technology that
the three now possess, it considers how long it would take each
to build a nuclear weapon if such a fateful decision were made.
Although nuclear dominoes Northeast Asia cannot be ruled out, the
author does not predict such a scenario. Unlike when each
previously went down a nuclear path, democracy and a free press
now prevail as barriers to building nukes in the basement.
Reliance on US defence commitments is a better security
alternative -- as long as such guarantees remain credible, an
issue that is also assessed. But extended deterrence is not a
tight barrier to proliferation of sensitive nuclear technologies.
Nuclear hedging by its Northeast Asian partners will challenge
Washington’s nuclear diplomacy.
Although nuclear dominoes Northeast Asia cannot be ruled out, the
author does not predict such a scenario. Unlike when each
previously went down a nuclear path, democracy and a free press
now prevail as barriers to building nukes in the basement.
Reliance on US defence commitments is a better security
alternative -- as long as such guarantees remain credible, an
issue that is also assessed. But extended deterrence is not a
tight barrier to proliferation of sensitive nuclear technologies.
Nuclear hedging by its Northeast Asian partners will challenge
Washington’s nuclear diplomacy.