************ East Asia Nuclear Policy Project *************
***************** Issue Brief *****************************
Volume 1, Number 2

August 11, 1999

The East Asia Nuclear Policy Project Issue Brief provides links 
to analytical and background information on global and regional 
nuclear issues of current relevance.  We welcome your feedback on 
ways to improve this service.  Please send any comments to: 
npp@nautilus.org

Recent Nuclear Policy Project papers:
" Japan Under the US Nuclear Umbrella," by Hans M. Kristensen:
 http://www.nautilus.org/nukepolicy/Nuclear-Umbrella/index.html

"The Nuclear Dimension of the U.S.-Japan Alliance," by Morton H. 
Halperin:
 http://www.nautilus.org/nukepolicy/Halperin/index.html

 ------------------------------------------------------------
In this issue:
  1.  Hiroshima Anniversary
  2.  Tokyo Forum on Disarmament
  3.  Taiwan Security Enhancement Act
  4.  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
  5.  PRC Nuclear Espionage
  6.  Missile Defense
  7.  Cooperative Threat Reduction Program

1.  Hiroshima Anniversary

August 6 marked the 54th anniversary of the dropping of a nuclear bomb on 
Hiroshima, Japan (See: 
http://www.nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/9908/AUG06.html#item12 ) 

Text and video of the Mayor of Hiroshima's 1999 Peace Declaration is 
available at:
 http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/peacesite/English/Stage3/3-2E.html

2.  Tokyo Forum on Disarmament
 
In his speech at the Hiroshima anniversary commemoration, Japanese Prime 
Minister Keizo Obuchi announced that he would ask that the report of the 
Tokyo Forum on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament be distributed at 
the United Nations (See: 
http://www.nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/9908/AUG06.html#item34 )  

A summary of the report is available at:
  http://www.nyu.edu/globalbeat/nuclear/CNS080599.html 

The full report is at:
  http://serv.peace.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/English/final1-e.htm

3.  Taiwan Security Enhancement Act

US Senator Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee, recently introduced the "Taiwan Security Enhancement Act," 
designed to increase US military sales to Taiwan.  (See: 
http://www.nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/9908/AUG05.html#item12 )

The full text of the act is available at:
http://www.nautilus.org/nukepolicy/Briefs/Documents/Taiwan_Security_Act.t
xt

4.  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Despite increasing calls from several quarters for ratification of the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee has yet to schedule a debate on the treaty.

Daryl Kimball of the Coalition To Reduce Nuclear Dangers argues for CTBT 
ratification in "54 Years After Trinity, Hiroshima, It Is Time to Cage 
the Nuclear Genie."  This article is available at:
  http://www.clw.org/coalition/briefv3n8.htm

The Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers also noted that, since September 
1997, over 80 US editorials have supported ratification of the CTBT, 
while only three have opposed:
  http://www.clw.org/coalition/briefv3n7.htm

For text of the CTBT, go to:
  http://www.acda.gov/treaties/ctb.htm

5.  PRC Nuclear Espionage

A group of nine scientists and former intelligence and military officials 
have sent a letter to all 100 US Senators calling for prompt ratification 
of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, arguing that ratification could 
help prevent PRC nuclear espionage:
  http://www.ucsusa.org/arms/index.html?ctbt.china.html

Richard L. Garwin and Wolfgang K.H. Panofsky argue in the International 
Herald Tribune on August 3 that the Cox Committee report greatly 
exaggerates both the degree to which the PRC's nuclear arsenal gained 
from stolen US secrets and the PRC's chance of reaching nuclear parity 
with the US.
  http://www.fas.org/rlg/edgarwin_2.html

6.  Missile Defense

After 6 straight failures, the US Theater High Altitude Area Defense 
(THAAD) has now succeeded in hitting its target twice in a row. (See: 
http://www.nautilus.org/napsnet/dr/9908/AUG02.html#item16 )

However, the Union of Concerned Scientists argues that despite this 
success, THAAD is still not capable of defending against the actual 
conditions of attack from intercontinental ballistic missiles.
  http://www.ucsusa.org/releases/index.html

For a recent paper on the "Technical Aspects of Ballistic Missile 
Defense" by Richard L. Garwin, see:
  http://www.fas.org/rlg/garwin-aps.htm

7.  Cooperative Threat Reduction Program

The US Defense Department announced that the Cooperative Threat Reduction 
(CTR) program with the Ukraine has been extended until 2006.  Through 
CTR, the US aids former Soviet states in dismantling of nuclear weapons 
and preventing nuclear proliferation.  The text of the Defense Department 
release is available at:
  http://www.nautilus.org/nukepolicy/Briefs/Documents/CTR.txt