MARCH 2023 - Nuclear Responsibilities at Sea - Bridging the Maritime-Security Nexus in the Asia-Pacific

During the dialogue, participants identified the nexus between the maritime and the nuclear domain as a possible area for fruitful cooperation amongst states in the Asia-Pacific. [...] They noted how the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach could be useful to discuss such topics and develop policy options for risk reduction in the region.1 In particular, the Approach could lead to a greater exploration of confidence-building measures and policy improvements to help govern submarine operations in the Indian Ocean and the South China Seas and to limit accidents and incidents in the A. [...] The Bangkok Treaty, in accordance with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),18 does not prohibit freedom of navigation, thus nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered submarines can still navigate in the territorial waters, in the archipelagic waters and in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the signatory states of the region. [...] The dialogue held in Kuala Lumpur highlighted that there is a gap that needs to be addressed and bridged between the maritime and the nuclear domains in the Asia Pacific. [...] Therefore, Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues that bring together maritime and nuclear experts in the Asia Pacific should continue, and crucially include China in the conversation, to further map out states’ maritime and nuclear responsibilities in the region and to effectively identify policy proposals to address the maritime-nuclear gap.