Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently conducting a technical review of the participation of major powers in the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), including the possibility of their placing ‘reservations’ on their commitments to the treaty.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin said the measure reflects ASEAN’s continued efforts to strengthen global commitment to the principle of nuclear non-proliferation and to make Southeast Asia a fully nuclear weapon-free zone.
This matter is being reviewed by the SEANWFZ Commission through discussions held at the senior official and executive committee levels, he said at a media briefing on July 6.
The SEANWFZ Treaty, or the Bangkok Treaty, was signed in December 1995 in Bangkok by the 10 ASEAN member countries and took effect in March 1997.
Under the protocol, every nuclear weapon state (NWS) must adhere to the SEANWFZ Treaty, not contribute to any act that constitutes a violation of the treaty or its protocol, not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against any state party to the treaty, and additionally, not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons within the zone./.
