Will America’s Asian Allies Go Nuclear?
In Northeast Asia, where national security still overwhelmingly
dominates the perspectives and behavior of states, nuclear
proliferation, both vertical and horizontal, is gaining stronger
momentum. China’s recent but substantial investment in modernizing its
nuclear arsenal and improving its reprocessing capacity is alarming its
neighbors, as well as the United States. The nuclear pursuits of North
Korea and, in particular, the acceleration of nuclear and missile tests
seem to be spiraling, whereas diplomatic efforts to stop Pyongyang’s
nuclear path have been futile to date. In
addition to its fourth nuclear test in January 2016, a series of
missile and rocket tests and the recent firing of a submarine-launched
ballistic missile (SLBM), Pyongyang is reportedly preparing another
nuclear weapons test in the coming months.
However, China and North Korea are not the only countries in Northeast Asia that are a cause for concern to the international community. Two close U.S. allies with advanced nuclear technology, South Korea and Japan, are also considered potential nuclear powers that might be able to develop a nuclear arsenal within a relatively short time frame, should they decide to do so. Growing concerns about nuclear proliferation in the region have cast doubts about whether these U.S. allies will continuously stay out of the military nuclear race. If South Korean and Japanese leaders came to be placed under more serious internal or external pressure due to growing military tensions, they might be tempted to pursue less restrained policy decisions about nuclear armament.
However, China and North Korea are not the only countries in Northeast Asia that are a cause for concern to the international community. Two close U.S. allies with advanced nuclear technology, South Korea and Japan, are also considered potential nuclear powers that might be able to develop a nuclear arsenal within a relatively short time frame, should they decide to do so. Growing concerns about nuclear proliferation in the region have cast doubts about whether these U.S. allies will continuously stay out of the military nuclear race. If South Korean and Japanese leaders came to be placed under more serious internal or external pressure due to growing military tensions, they might be tempted to pursue less restrained policy decisions about nuclear armament.
