Provisions
The Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) [Treaty of Bangkok] commits Parties not to conduct or receive or give assistance in the research, development, manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, possession or control over any nuclear explosive device by any means. Each State Party also undertake not to dump at sea or discharge into the atmosphere anywhere within the Zone any radioactive material or wastes. Under the Protocol each State Party undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against any State Party to the Treaty, and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons within the Zone.Status
US Secretary of State Christopher told ASEAN in 1993 that the United States was willing to take a fresh look at SEANWFZ, but would need to see a draft of a treaty. President Clinton sent a letter in early February 1995 to President Soeharto of Indonesia, stating that the United States would be prepared to consider favorably a SEANWFZ treaty, in the context of its conformity with our longstanding criteria. The United States has explained to the ASEAN states that the text of the Treaty and Protocol does not meet all fundamental US concerns, and that these concerns must be addressed if ASEAN wishes the United States to give serious consideration to signing the Protocol.
Indonesia and Malaysia proposed the establishment of a Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in the mid-1980's; opposition from some ASEAN members, however, slowed the drafting of a proposed treaty. Ten Southeast Asian states signed the SEANWFZ Treaty on December 15, 1995 at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok.Documents
Primary documents, including treaty text and other related material.News
Chronological archive of news reports, commentary analysis and other related material.Related Web Sites