China to Join SE Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday his country plans to sign the treaty that designated Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone, the Financial Times reported (see GSN, Sept. 12).

The Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone entered into force in 1997.  It prevents the 10 member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from developing or possessing nuclear weapons, and mandates that they acknowledge any visits by nuclear-powered ships and airplanes.

China is not an ASEAN member nation and is among the recognized nuclear powers.  Its pledge to sign the treaty is a symbolic effort to promote ties with other countries in the region, the Times reported (Richard McGregor, Financial Times, Oct. 31).

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