ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates the recent trends and perceptions of the major powers on proliferation and arms race debates in the region. The Korean Peninsula– and the broader Northeast Asian geography— as well as the Indo-Pacific are two of the world’s more contentious and sensitive regions. In essence, the nuclear nuances and heightening tensions in the East Asian region point to an emerging, if not intensifying, trend of proliferation. In South Korea, the discourse on developing nuclear-powered submarines is already well underway with the recent announcement of the establishment of a reactor. Moving forward, while the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) trilateral does hold risks, it also promises to undertake deep data and technological sharing, further defence innovation, industrial growth and supply chains, improve digital connectivity, artificial intelligence, quantum advancements and undersea capacities.
