The Oil Crisis of the 1970s was what propelled the need to build nuclear power plants in Europe and in North America. However, with the Chernobyl accident in 1986 a retreat was observed due  to safety concerns. There has been a revival of the nuclear option since the 1990s, particularly with the rise of Asian nations. The West's immediate concern might be the Middle East, yet Asia is no short of generating a major stir up in the coming years.   

Conventional US allies, South Korea and Japan have already explored the option of nuclear energy. BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are to be the new economic superpowers of 2050 with  nuclear capacity. Among these India and China with an annual growth rate of 8 to 10 percent are the declared nuclear powers that will compete  for Asian leadership. With populations over a billion, these two growing economies are in grave need of energy to be able to sustain development and to maintain the well-being of the people. Currently India has 19 reactor units in operation (4.2 GWe), 4 under construction, 20 planned, 24 proposed, and 5 research reactors while China has 11 reactor units in operation (8.6 GWe), 22 under construction (24.6 GWe), 35 planned, 120 proposed, and 13 research reactors[1]. Likewise energy hungry ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are all planning on developing atomic energy, and in the case of the Philippines re-opening the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is in the agenda, to cope with increasing energy and food costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. "Through  2010 projected new generating capacity in this region involved the addition of some 38 GWe per year, and from 2010 to 2020 it is 56 GWe/yr, up to one third of this replacing retired plant.  This is about 36% of the world's new capacity. (Current world capacity is about 3700 GWe, of which 370 GWe is nuclear. ) Much of this growth will be in China, Japan, India and Korea.  The nuclear share of this to 2020 is expected to be considerable, especially if environmental constraints limit fossil fuel expansion."[2] The projections of well spread nuclear energy in Asia does not necessarily threaten the idea of peaceful coexistence, but nuclear energy's susceptibility into becoming a lethal power and the object of war is a matter of concern in the region. Asia's inclination towards the nuclear is nothing new, as Asia harbors the three non-signatory countries of  Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which is the 1970  treaty on the reduction of nuclear arms, and the signatory  China. 

The most prominent of all the non-signatories is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Under the peculiar leadership of Kim Jung-Il, North Korea's withdrawal from the NPT  in 2003, and affirmation of  nuclear program has become the primary security matter for US allies South Korea and Japan. The Six Party Talks which consist of both Korea's, US, China, Japan and Russia have not revealed  any viable outcome for the reversal of  the nuclear program, nor has South Korea's Sunshine Policy which favored closer economic and political ties with the North has led to the betterment of the not so friendly relations since the Korean War.

 It seems very unlikely for Kim to give up his ultimate nuclear deterrent that enables North Korea to acquire political concessions, overcome economic stagnation, and endow the perseverance of the Kim dynasty. Hopes that a rapprochement between the two Korea's was further hampered as the multi-national forensic investigation team found that a powerful ''external explosion" either directly in contact with or close to the right side the ship, possibly a torpedo  sank the South Korean 1,200-ton corvette Cheonan, killing 46 sailors on March 26, 2010. While South Korea tried not to point any fingers at the North till the investigation was over, North Korea denied  any involvement in what it considered a "regretful accident."The South Korean President Lee Myung- bak, is determined to put an end to Kim's omnibalancing  politics with an all or nothing approach, demanding total denuclearization, an official apology and unification on the long term[3]. They have already taken the case to the UNSC with the support of 58 other nations. The outcome, however, is likely to follow the typical ups and downs of their relationship whereby each side ends up taking a step back , this time around the South is insistent that it is Kim's turn.

Another potential nuclear concern is the historical Indo-Pakistani dispute on territories regarding Jammu, Kashmir and the lack of agreement on the border lines, the cause of two, out of the three  major clashes between them. Rivalry between the countries is apparent in the nuclear arms race, which began when India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. Pakistan announced that she would not fall short, and by the late 1980s they had the means to build weapons. In 1998  both countries bluntly tested nuclear weapons, and refused to sign the NPT  against all international pressure.  By 2005 as Indo-American interests in region coincided, concerns regarding China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the spread of  terror created an opportunity to further improve relations . With the rise of China coming right at them, the Bush administration felt the need to balance China through India[4]. Initially the NPT does not allow a non-signatory to trade  nuclear technology and material. Yet, India was off the hook with the 123 Agreement signed in 2007[5]. Under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) surveillance, India has been allowed to engage in nuclear commerce devoid of  NPT responsibility. 

Meanwhile, China has been busy with Pakistan, currently has  2 reactors in operation, assisting them in developing civilian nuclear energy. In April, China publicized the sale of two nuclear reactors to Pakistan under  an agreement on the advancement of the reactor Chasma first signed in 1991 before China joined  Nuclear Suppliers Group which is organized in order to watch over who does what with their nucs without much binding power. "Chinese officials said last month[March 2010] that export of the reactors to Pakistan would be justified in consideration of political developments in South Asia, including the entry into force of the U.S.-India deal and the NSG exemption for India."[6] Counterbalancing India and the US  in the region, and the continuation of China's peaceful rise is closely linked to establishing a stable environment, allowing her to import and export  energy to further enable its economic growth, and reinforce Chinese sphere of influence, once known as the Middle Kingdom. China's nuclear capacity not only enhances China's deterrence as a major power, but also is creating a new market in the face of global warming and lack of fuel based resources. China intends to become a major supplier of  nuclear energy in the coming years. 

Asian nations, and the rest of the world are very well aware of the possible unintended consequences. There may be tense relations, but the escalation of disputes into an all out war between North and South Koreas possibly induced by North Korea as well as an Indian-Pakistani  or  a Sino-Indian war are not  feasible scenarios for the near future. ASEAN's transformation akin to the EU as a socio-economic organization is indeed an indication of a prospering region with little chances of war. In this context, the common focus of the matter will be on Asia's growing demand of energy and finding alternative sources such as nuclear energy, and a turn towards Asia in terms of politics, economics and new power struggles that will come afore should these nations continue to grow.  

Nuclear Power in Asia, and Involvement with the Nuclear Fuel Cycle 

* 54 operable, 2 under construction

** The total includes 6 reactors in operation, plus two under construction, on Taiwan. It also has four research reactors. Taiwan has no other stages of the fuel cycle.

Key: UM Uranium Mining, C Conversion, E Enrichment, FF Fuel Fabrication, R Reprocessing, WM Waste Management facilities for spent fuel away from reactors.

Source: "Asia's Nuclear Energy Growth"  World Nuclear Association. Apr. 2010.  17 Aug. 2010

 <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf47.html>

[1] "Asia's Nuclear Energy Growth"  World Nuclear Association. Apr. 2010.  17 Aug. 2010 <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf47.html>   

[2] Ibid

[3] "South Korea: North must change, embrace reunification" The Mainichi Daily News: International News .16 Aug 2010. 19 Aug.2010 http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/international/news/20100816p2g00m0in003000c.html 

[4] Emmot, Bill. "Rivals: How The Power Struggle Between China, India and Japan Will Shape Our Next Decade" Allen Lane:Penguin, April 2008 

[5] "India and US Confirm Nuclear Pact" .BBC News Online:South Asia .27 July 2007. 15 Aug.2010  < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6919552.stm> 

[6] Hibbs, Mark."Pakistan Deal Signals China's Growing Nuclear Assertiveness" 27 Apr. 2010. 19 Aug. 2010  <http://carnegieeurope.eu/publications/?fa=40685>