ARTICLE

RECOMMEND (223)

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PLUSONE

MORE

E-MAIL

PRINT

TEXT SIZE

SPDC spokesmen have stated that Burma was putting its energy and resources into the pursuit of a peaceful, stable and smooth transition to a multi-party democracy and an open market economy. The nuclear reactor, which was apparently still on the junta’s list of priority development projects, was said to be for peaceful research purposes only. The junta has further claimed that Burma was “everyone’s friend and nobody’s ally or enemy.” It said that it had no ambition to arm itself with nuclear weapons and firmly rejected the idea that Burma would ever threaten any of its neighbors. There is still considerable confusion about Burma’s plans for a nuclear reactor. A number of key questions remain unanswered. It is likely to be several years before the facility is built and comes on line. A number of major obstacles will need to be overcome. But even if a Burmese nuclear weapon is simply a bad dream, the construction of a nuclear reactor will severely stretch Rangoon’s budget and technical capabilities. It may test Burma’s relations with its neighbors and the wider international community even more. The full version of this article appeared in the February issue of the Asia Pacific Defence Reporter. William Ashton writes regularly about security issues in Asia.