International Atomic Energy Agency’s Role In The Development Of Peaceful Use Of Nuclear Energy In East Asia (1957-1976)

The International Atomic Energy Agency was established in 1957 with the dual functions of providing technical assistance to underdeveloped countries in peaceful use of atomic energy and ensuring member states do not use the assistance for military purposes.This study analyzes the changing status of Japan,Taiwan(China)and South Korea in the IAEA and how the Agency was engaged in the development of peaceful use of atomic energy in East Asia from 1957 to 1976.The attitude of China’s mainland and North Korea towards IAEA is also mentioned in the thesis.The first chapter outlines the history of IAEA,especially focusing on the evolution of the Agency’s safeguards system which was established in the late 1950 s under control of Western countries.Safeguards system was then linked to the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons(NPT)in late 1960 s through combined efforts of the U.S.and Soviet Union.This political event has made IAEA,which claims to promote peaceful use of nuclear technology without political interference,as an arena for power struggle.Due to India’s peaceful nuclear explosion in 1974,IAEA safeguards system expanded further.However,the implementation of safeguards was far from smooth because of the frictions between the U.S.and its major allies on nuclear nonproliferation issues.Giving technical assistance to developing countries is IAEA’s another obligation,but it is prior to the safeguards function.The second chapter explores how Japanese government and nuclear power compnies were involved in the operation of IAEA.The chapter begins with the details of how Japanese government introduced its national JRR-3 research nuclear reactor into IAEA.And then the author try to explain that Japanese government and nuclear power compnies have been deeply involved in international nuclear affairs from IAEA’s early days.In the 1970 s,Japan was hesitated to ratify NPT and accept IAEA’s full-scope safeguards because Japan wanted to achieve self-inspection as Euratom countries had.At that time,Japan was theoretically capable of developing independent nuclear deterrent.Japan also gave nuclear isotope assistance to Southeast Asian countries through IAEA.The third chapter describes Taiwan’s(China)status in IAEA and the Agency’s safeguards and technical assistance to Taiwan(China).Due to the dominance of Western countries in IAEA,Taiwan(China)had the Agency’s membership before 1971.In early 1970 s,Taiwan(China)was among the first countries which signed NPT and accept fullscope IAEA safeguards.However,when the U.S.tightened its nuclear nonproliferation policy,Taiwan(China)’s reprocessing facilities which could be used for fast breeder reactors were shut down abruptly,and IAEA safeguards system was used to control Taiwan(China).In 1972,IAEA cancelled the Taiwan’s membership,but safeguard agreements were retained,which prevented People’s Republic of China from joining the Agency in the 1970 s.In this chapter,Section 5 is related to the decision-making process of China’s participation to IAEA in the late 1970 s and early 1980 s,which is beyond the time limit of this paper.The author defines it as final solution of Taiwan’s status in the IAEA.Chinese government’s changing attitude from rejection to integration towards IAEA reflected that national security,national sovereignty and the interests of non-nuclear countries were the essential factors must be considered when it try to engage in international nuclear cooperation.The fourth chapter describes South Korea’s status in IAEA and the Agency’s safeguards and technical assistance to South Korea.Due to the dominance of Western countries in IAEA,South Korea got Agency’s membership as it established.Easing relations between the East and West bloc countries in early 1970 s made North Korea’s participation to IAEA possible.In the mid 1970 s,South Korea purchased heavy water reactors and reprocessing equipment from Canada and France in order to realize technological and energy independence.However,when the US tightened its nuclear nonproliferation policy,South Korea also failed to get similar privileges as Japan,and was eventually forced to abandon its commercial contract with France.This paper argues that from the creation of the IAEA in 1957 to Japan’s ratification of NPT in 1976,Japan,Taiwan(China)and South Korea made greater progress in peaceful use of atomic energy than other less developed countries because their strategic position at the anti-communist forefront and their conscious of “independence”.IAEA’s role in promoting peaceful use of atomic energy in East Asia was marginal.This led that IAEA’s involvement in East Asian nuclear affairs was primarily political rather than technical,which departed from the Agency’s vision of “accelerating and expanding the contribution of atomic energy to peace,health and prosperity throughout the world”.