Asia from a nonproliferation perspective

Asia calls for increased attention in disarmament and non-proliferation issues. The region has many nuclear weapon states. Among these are China and Russia who are both - in the Non Proliferation Treaty - acknowledged as nuclear weapon states. China is investing offensively in its military capability, including its nuclear weapons. Future disarmament negotiations will inevitably depend on the Asian states willingness - or unwillingness - to deal with questions with implications on each of the countries nuclear arsenals. We will - in this food for thought paper - read the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) as well as the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) from an Asian perspective, to enlighten which questions might end up on the agenda in the near-term. The hope is in addition to illuminate which security issues that may be behind different countries positions in disarmament and non-proliferation issues.