Regional Norms for Cooperation on Nuclear Safety and Radiological Emergency in South East Asia

RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Dr Olli Heinonen, S. Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies, RSIS, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore,
on 2 November 2016.

Safeguards, security and safety are commonly seen as separate areas in nuclear governance. While there are technical and legal reasons to justify this, they also co- exist and are mutually reinforcing in many ways. Safety, security and safeguards are close ‘triplets’ that have synergetic effects on one another, and contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall nuclear order. An important norm is for states to adhere to the latest IAEA legal instruments in these fields as well as demonstrate their full compliance with established requirements.

To this end, the Heads of ASEAN states agreed in April 2012 in Phnom Penh to develop a coordinated ASEAN approach that would contribute to global undertakings to improve nuclear safety in cooperation with other partners and uphold IAEA standards of nuclear safety and security in the development of nuclear energy for peaceful use.

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