Southeast Asia Reaffirms Nuclear-Free Commitment as SEANWFZ Committee Meets in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 July 2025 (Voice of Malaysia)— The Executive Committee of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission convened today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), reaffirming ASEAN’s unified stance on nuclear disarmament and regional peace.

Held in advance of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), the high-level gathering served as a strategic forum for reviewing the implementation of the 2023–2027 SEANWFZ Plan of Action and revitalizing momentum toward the treaty’s full accession by global nuclear powers.

The SEANWFZ Treaty, established in 1995 under the Bangkok Treaty, declares Southeast Asia a permanent nuclear weapon-free zone. It prohibits the development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of nuclear weapons across ASEAN territories.

A key focus of the discussion was the treaty’s protocol, which calls upon the five recognized nuclear-weapon states—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—to provide legally binding negative security assurances to ASEAN member states. While China and Russia have shown willingness to sign without reservations, other nuclear powers remain in various stages of technical and political consultations.

Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, is taking the lead in addressing this long-standing diplomatic challenge. A senior official from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked:

“This is a defining moment for ASEAN to demonstrate moral leadership in global disarmament efforts and ensure our region remains permanently free from the threat of nuclear weapons.”

The meeting brought together ASEAN’s Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) leaders and high-level representatives, including

• Malaysia: H.E. Dato’ Sri Amran Mohamed Zin, ASEAN SOM Leader of Malaysia

• Brunei Darussalam: H.E. Johariah Wahab, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Cambodia: H.E. Kung Phoak, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Indonesia: H.E. Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Lao PDR: H.E. Phongsavanh Sisoulath, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Myanmar: Mr. Han Wing Aung, Director General, Alternate ASEAN SOM Leader

• Philippines: H.E. Ana Marie L. Hernando, Alternate ASEAN SOM Leader

• Singapore: H.E. Albert Chua, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Thailand: H.E. Eksiri Pintaruchi, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Viet Nam: H.E. Tran Duc Binh, ASEAN SOM Leader

• Timor-Leste: H.E. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, ASEAN SOM Leader

• ASEAN Secretariat: H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)

The outcomes of the Executive Committee meeting will be submitted to the full SEANWFZ Commission meeting later this week, providing key input to ASEAN foreign ministers as they deliberate regional and global security issues.

The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings are being held from 7–11 July 2025, under the theme:
“ASEAN Matters: Reaffirming Centrality, Upholding Peace.”