November 1, 2009

Lowy Institute

Shen Dingli

Reports/Studies

There is pressure and expectation on China from some quarters to be more transparent about its nuclear arsenal and to engage in a nuclear disarmament process. Given, however, the recent official statements on Chinese nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament policy, including in response to President Obama’s proposal, see: Statement by President Hu Jintao at the United Nations Security Council Summit on Nuclear NonProliferation and Nuclear Disarmament, very small size of the Chinese arsenal alongside those of the United States and Russia, and given that China already has a policy of deemphasizing the role of nuclear weapons in its national security, it would be reasonable to expect Beijing to participate in nuclear disarmament only if Washington and Moscow have reached much lower force levels. In the meantime, however, China can contribute as a responsible stakeholder, including in addressing proliferation cases on its periphery and in other regions of concern.

"Pour un désarmement nucléaire mondial, seule réponse à la prolifération anarchique" ("For Global Nuclear Disarmament, the Only Answer to Anarchic Proliferation")

October 14, 2009

Le Monde

Former Prime Minister of France Alain Juppé, General Bernard Norlain, former Commander of the French Combat Air Force, former French Minister of Defense Alain Richar and former Prime Minister of France Michel Rocard

Op-eds/Statements

Read the op-ed

October 1, 2009

Lowy Institute

Rory Medcalf, Amandeep Gill

Reports/Studies

To reduce the grave dangers posed by the continued existence and spread of nuclear weapons, and the risk that they will one day again be used, unconventional diplomacy is needed. Part of the problem is the way in which global agreements or pragmatic interim solutions are often obstructed by longstanding divisions among nations: nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states; Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) members and nonmembers; Western states and the non-aligned. New partnerships and platforms for dialogue could cut across these stale categories, at least on some issues, and expand the space for agreement and new thinking. Australia and India could take the lead in crafting one such new partnership.

September 24, 2009

NTI

George Shultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger and Sam Nunn

Op-eds/Statements

The Summit in the UN Security Council brings much-needed global focus to the risks posed by the spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear know-how and nuclear material. By convening heads of state, the meeting can help build the necessary political will around the urgent steps required to reduce nuclear dangers.

September 24, 2009

President Barack Obama

Speech/Testimony

President Obama references the influence of George Shultz, Bill Perry, Henry Kissinger, and Sam Nunn.