Asia-Pacific Moving towards the Ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

• Author: Hong Thao Nguyen
• Position: Professor of International Law at National University of Vietnam-Hanoi and Diplomacy Academy of Vietnam (DAV); Member of the International Law Commission
• Pages: 465-466

East Asian Observer

465

XI JEAIL 2 (2018)

Asia- Pacific Moving towards the Ratification of the

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

∗

Hong Thao Nguyen

∗∗

The new Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (“TPNW”) opened for signature

on September 20, 2017. It will enter into force in 90 days after getting 50 instruments of

ratication. This fact shows that Asia-Pacic is in the forward position to totally eliminate

nuclear weapons in the world for the peace, security and human well-being. How to move

forward the process of ratifying the TPNW? In order to clarify this question, the author will

focus on the following three parts: 1) Asia-Pacic and International Humanitarian Law; 2)

Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons - a step towards the nuclear disarmament;

and 3) Ratication of TPNW.

Keywords

TPNW, NPT, Nuclear Weapons, IHL, ICRC, Nuclear Weapons Free Zone

1. Introduction

The new Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (“TPNW”) opened for signature

on September 20, 2017. It will enter into force in 90 days after getting 50 instruments

of ratification. After one year, 19 ratification instruments were deposited, near one

third of them from Asia-Pacic countries (Thailand, Palau, Vietnam, New Zealand,

Cook Island and Samoa).

1

This fact shows that Asia-Pacic is in the forward position

to totally eliminate nuclear weapons in the world for the peace, security and human

well-being. How to move forward the process of ratifying the TPNW? It is a big

question before the International Committee of the Red Cross (“ICRC”), other

1 ICAN, Signature/ratification status of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, available at http://www.

icanw.org/status-of-the-treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons (last visited on Nov. 12, 2018).

* This paper is revised and updated version of the author’s speech at the ICRC Regional Conference on International

Humanitarian Law in Asia-Pacific: Taking Stock, Moving Forward, Jakarta on September 26-27, 2018.

** Professor of International Law at National University of Vietnam-Hanoi and Diplomacy Academy of Vietnam (DAV);

Member of the International Law Commission. The author may be contacted at: nguyenhongthao57@gmail.com

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2018.11.2.11