ASEAN foreign ministers: Welcome any nuclear-armed country to sign Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.

ASEAN foreign ministers: Welcome any nuclear-armed country to sign Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2, 2025 — In a significant move towards regional security, China has pledged to sign the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty as soon as all documentation is ready. This commitment was made by Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan during a meeting of ASEAN counterparts and partner countries [1].

The SEANWFZ Treaty, also known as the Bangkok Treaty, has been in force since 1997, limiting the use of nuclear power by members to peaceful purposes such as energy generation. ASEAN's objective is for the world's nuclear powers, including China, the United States, Britain, Russia, and France, to sign the treaty and commit to non-use or movement of nuclear weapons in the region, including countries' exclusive economic zones and continental shelves [2].

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan stated that China has made a commitment to sign the treaty without reservation. This positive development for ASEAN was welcomed by the foreign ministers who attended the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre [2].

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who led his delegation to the high-level meetings, confirmed China's willingness to sign the treaty and lead by example among nuclear-armed states. This move comes amid rising global security tensions and the threat of imminent United States tariffs, which have pushed ASEAN states to seek alternative trade partners [3].

The SEANWFZ is one of five Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) globally, alongside those in Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Africa, and Central Asia. The treaty's signing by China and other nuclear powers would significantly enhance regional security and stability [4].

References:
[1] https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/10/tok-mat-china-pledges-to-sign-asean-nuclear-weapon-free-zone-treaty/183472
[2] https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2025/07/10/positive-signal-for-asean-as-china-commits-to-nuclear-free-zone/
[3] https://trt.global/world/article/0bf33bfd9a14
[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/10/china-backs-southeast-asia-nuclear-ban-rubio-lavrov-at-asean-meeting