There are approximately 30,000
nuclear weapons in the world, belonging to nine countries: US, Russian
Federation, UK, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea.
More than 1,500 of them are ready to launch at a moment's notice.
These nuclear weapons states are clinging to old weapons, reinventing new roles and designs for them and even proposing "smaller useable" options – while continually making pledges to get rid of them!
The nuclear threat is a real and present danger in the Asia-Pacific region today. The US is adopting an increasingly aggressive nuclear doctrine that is in danger of inflaming the growing number of potential flash points throughout Asia (and of course in the Middle East). While the US maintains and threatens the use of its nuclear weapons, it follows that other countries would want to do the same.
As a key US military ally, Australia is in danger of endorsing the new aggressive US nuclear policy.
