NPP Weekly FLASH Update, March 21, 2000

	CONTENTS March 21, 2000 ARMS CONTROL 1. Former Military Chief Outlines Push For Test Ban 2. US Pacific Command Advocates More Arms Control CHINA 3. Pentagon Study Foresees Decade-Long Chinese Challenge 4. Paper Sees Increased US Nuclear Focus on China RUSSIA 5. Problems Delay Russian Nuclear Submarines Dismantling MISSILE DEFENSE 6. Pentagon Delays Critical Missile Test 7. Analyst Describes Arms Control-Missile Defense Interaction NON-PROLIFERATION 8. New Law Aims To Curb Iranian Weapons Programs US ELECTION 9. Bush Foreign Policy Maker Profiled NATO 10. US Nuclear Weapons In Greece Were Unsafe CLINTON'S SOUTH-ASIA VISIT 11. US-India Pledge Nuclear Arms Control 12. Clinton Administration Briefing On South-Asia Policy		About the Nuclear Policy Project: Project Description Events and Publications Browse Past Updates: Preceding Weekly FLASH Weekly FLASH Archive Search Nautilus Site Email Services: Signup for Email Delivery Latest Update Emailed Now *Send Comments*
	ARMS CONTROL
	1. Former Military Chief Outlines Push For Test Ban Retired U.S. military head John Shalikashvili yesterday promised a major lobbying push this year to change minds in the Senate and clear the way for passage of the rejected global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests. "Shalikashvili To Lobby For Nuclear Test Ban Pact" "Gen. Shalikashvili's March 16 address to the Carnegie Non-Proliferation Conference"
	2. US Pacific Command Advocates More Arms Control The Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Dennis Blair, told the Carnegie International Non-Proliferation Conference that there is a need for more arms control treaties in the Asia-Pacific region. He said that if pursued skillfully, efforts to create security communities in Asia over time will take hold and build a durable security structure that will support prosperity and improvements in the standard of living for all. "US Pacific Commander Address Carnegie Conference"
	CHINA
	3. Pentagon Study Foresees Decade-Long Chinese Challenge A report published by a semi-official Pentagon study group has rejects that Chinese-American relations might evolve gently and fruitfully but predicts that "China will be a persistent competitor of the United States." The report, Asia 2025, concludes that "A stable and powerful China will be constantly challenging the status quo in East Asia. An unstable and relative[ly] weak China could be dangerous because its leaders might try to bolster their power with foreign military adventurism." "2025 Vision: A China Bent On Asian Dominance" (original) "2025 Vision: A China Bent On Asian Dominance" (alternate link)
	4. Paper Sees Increased US Nuclear Focus on China The role of China in the Pentagon's nuclear war planning has gradually increased throughout the late-1990s, writes Nautilus Associate Hans M. Kristensen in a review of U.S. nuclear strategy in the 1990s. After being demoted to a second-class opponent in the early 1980s, China was formally brought back into main-stream U.S. nuclear war planning in October 1998 with the completion of the SIOP-99 (Single Integrated Operational Plan). The development follows President Clinton's signing of Presidential Decision Directive 60 (PDD-60) in November 1997. "China Gets Increased Attention In US Nuclear War Planning"
	RUSSIA
	5. Problems Delay Russian Nuclear Submarines Dismantling A total of 160 decommissioned nuclear submarines are awaiting dismantling in Russia but the work is undermined by technical and financial problems, according to the Russian State Nuclear Inspectorate. In the Northern Fleet alone, current capacity can only dismantle 5-6 submarines per year out of the 60 decommissioned nuclear submarines. This article is available from World News Connection
	MISSILE DEFENSE
	6. Pentagon Delays Critical Missile Test Pentagon officials said that a critical test of the National Missile Defense system will not take place until late June, the Washington Ppost reported. The delay of the test, scheduled for April 27, could threaten the politically sensitive timetable for deciding whether to start building the multibillion-dollar network of radars and interceptors. It casts doubt on whether President Clinton will make the deployment decision or leave it to his successor, and whether the system can be completed by the target date of 2005. "Missile Defense Test Postponed"
	7. Analyst Describes Arms Control-Missile Defense Interaction Missile defense and missile non-proliferation may complement each other, former Senior Analyst on Missile Proliferation with the Director of Central Intelligence Non-Proliferation Center Michael Hardin stated in a paper presented to a Carnegie roundtable meeting. Missile nonproliferation, even though it does not prevent every kind of transfer, can prevent the export of enough hardware and technology to make offensive missiles less stressing to missile defensive systems. Missile defense, on the other hand, can force the offensive into missile development paths that are more more complex and thus more vulnerable to export controls. "Missile Defense and Missile Non-Proliferation: The Interactions"
	NON-PROLIFERATION
	8. New Law Aims To Curb Iranian Weapons Programs President Clinton March 14 signed into law H.R. 1883, the "Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000" which penalize countries whose companies provide assistance to Iran's efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile delivery systems. "Bill aims to combat Iran's WMD and missile delivery efforts" (original) "Bill aims to combat Iran's WMD and missile delivery efforts" (alternate link)
	US ELECTION
	9. Bush Foreign Policy Maker Profiled Steve Kettmann writes about Ms. Condoleezza Rice, seen by many as a prominent figure behind George W. Bush's foreign policy agenda. It is clear that she is the brains of the operation, Ketterman concludes. "Bush's Secret Weapon"
	NATO
	10. US Nuclear Weapons In Greece Were Unsafe An article in the Greek newspaper Ta Nea writes that U.S. nuclear weapons stored at the Araxos Air Base in Greece were found in 1993 to be unsafely stored. The article, which is based on a report in the March/April issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists article, asks if the the Greek Government has requested information from the United States about the incident and whether similar incidents can be prevented in the future. This article is available from World News Connection See also "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists"
	CLINTON'S SOUTH-ASIA VISIT
	11. US-India Pledge Nuclear Arms Control In a joint statement, U.S. President Clinton and India's Prime Minister Vajpayee pledged that they would forgo further nuclear tests and work together with others for an early commencement of negotiations on a treaty for the production of fissile materials. They also said they would work together to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the means of delivery. "Clinton-Vajpayee Joint Vision Statement"
	12. Clinton Administration Briefing On South-Asia Policy U.S. National Security Advisor Sandy Berger briefed about security and other policy ibjectives for President Clinton's trip to India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The briefing also included Deputy National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard, and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Rick Inderfurth. "U.S. Briefing On Objectives for Clinton South Asia Visit"
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