A Nuclear Weapon-Free Southeast Asia and its Continuing Strategic Significance.

2005 marks the tenth year since the ten countries of Southeast Asia declared the region a nuclear weapon-free zone. Under the new and fast evolving strategic environment, is the original purpose of establishing the zone still valid? This article will suggest that SEANWFZ remains strategically relevant because it conveys a message of peace, contributes to the global campaign against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, adds pressure to the Nuclear Weapon States to pursue nuclear disarmament, and contributes to building the confidence of Southeast Asian countries in managing their common security and exercising a good measure of control over their destiny. SEANWFZ is also relevant to counter-terrorism efforts by ensuring that WMD material, and technology from which nuclear weapons could be developed, do not fall into the hands of terrorists or be transmitted through the Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]