Overview
On 15 December 1995, ASEAN Member States signed the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty) as a commitment to preserve the Southeast Asian region as a region free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The Treaty is also known as the Bangkok Treaty. Through thisTreaty, ASEAN reaffirms the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and in contributing towards international peace and security. It also marks the establishment of a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) in Southeast Asia – one among five NWFZs in the world. The other four NWFZs are in Latin America and the Caribbean, South Pacific, Africa, and Central Asia.
The Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty welcomes the signing and early ratification of the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS), which will contribute to the promotion of the realisation of a Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. Efforts are underway towards the accession of the NWS to the Protocol.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
To ensure the full realisation of the goals and objective of the Treaty, the first Plan of Action to Strengthen the Implementation of the SEANWFZ (PoA) was adopted in 2007 for a period of five years, and was subsequently extended. ASEAN also engages external partners to strengthen the capacities of ASEAN Member States in implementing the Treaty, including with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other partners.
Major Sectoral Bodies/Committees
The Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission oversees the implementation of the SEANWFZ Treaty and ensure compliance with its provisions. The Commission, comprising ASEAN Foreign Ministers, is assisted by the SEANWFZ Executive Committee and its Working Group, which meets once a year, respectively. The Chairmanship of the Commission is rotated on a yearly basis following the ASEAN Chairmanship.
The Commission discusses important policy issues in the area of non-proliferation and disarmament, nuclear safety, security and safeguards, including measures to enhance the profile of the Treaty at the United Nations (UN).
Key Documents
- Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
- Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone
- Plan of Action to Strengthen the Implementation of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (2013-2017)
- Plan of Action to Strengthen the Implementation of the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (2018-2022)
- Plan of Action to Strengthen The Implementation of The Treaty on The Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (2023-2027)
