Having answered "yes" to the basic question, the CSBM IWG has: examined basic principles for regional confidence building; investigated the utility and applicability of the UN Register of Conventional Arms to the Asia Pacific region, while also laying the groundwork for possible development of an Asian Arms Register; developed a generic outline for defense policy papers ("white papers") to aid those regional states who have decided to produce or refine current versions of this transparency tool; stimulated discussion and debate on the ARF's possible future preventive diplomacy role, including the development of a working definition and statement of principles of preventive diplomacy; and performed ground-breaking work on the development of multilateral approaches to nuclear safety and non-proliferation in the region, including  developing an outline for an Asia Pacific Nuclear Energy Data Book which will form the basis for future volumes outlining specific indigenous programs.  The IWG has also discussed the possible formation of an Asian or Pacific Atomic Energy Community (PACATOM) cooperative mechanism.

The Working Group also sponsors a Nuclear Energy Experts' Group which conducts more in-depth analysis on nuclear energy-related issues. Its first two meetings, at the Cooperative Monitoring Center (CMC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October 1998 and January 1999, resulted in the development of a generic nuclear energy monitoring scheme to promote greater transparency in nuclear energy production and research operations.  The generic system uses currently available technologies and is being presented to nuclear energy producers in the region for consideration, on a voluntary basis, as a trans-national confidence building measure.  It is now an integral part of an Asia Pacific Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site, also being developed by the Experts' Group in cooperation with the CMC.

The CSBM Working Group has been focusing its efforts in two primary areas: an examination of preventive diplomacy as it applies to the Asia-Pacific region, and the promotion of transparency and greater trust and understanding in the nuclear energy and broader security arenas.  This latter effort has looked at nuclear energy in the context of both energy security and non-proliferation, often in cooperation with the Nuclear Energy Experts Group.  A brief synopsis of CSBM Working Group activities over the past two years follows.

The CSBM Working Group met twice in 1999. At a Feb 28 -March 2, 1999 meeting in Bangkok, the CSBM Working Group, in cooperation with the United States Institute of Peace, conducted a Workshop on Preventive Diplomacy, immediately prior to and in coordination with an ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Support Group (ARF/ISG) Confidence Building Measures Meeting.  The Workshop included case studies and a practical exercise examining previous examples of preventive diplomacy both from within and beyond the region.  Participants developed a Working Definition and Statement of Principles of Preventive Diplomacy which were subsequently tabled and discussed at the ARF/ISG meeting.

The CSBM Working Group convened again on May 24-27, 1999 in South Korea  to further examine nuclear energy-related topics.  The meeting included a visit to a ROK nuclear power plant as a demonstration of South Korea's commitment to nuclear energy transparency.  Members of the Nuclear Energy Experts' Group participated in this meeting, which also was aimed at examining and expanding upon the current prototype Nuclear Transparency Web Site.  Working Group members also continued their efforts to develop a generic Nuclear Energy White Paper (similar to the Working Group’s earlier Defense White Paper effort) to promote greater transparency among nuclear energy producers, while examining the feasibility of developing a comprehensive inventory of current organizations, programs, and initiatives that already address nuclear energy-related challenges and concerns.  During the remainder of the year, select members of the Nuclear Energy Experts Group participated in various meetings and demonstrations in Malaysia (at the CSCAP Steering Committee meeting), Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the U.S., and (in early 2000) Russia, aimed at further refining and expanding the Web Site through increased regional participation.

The Nuclear Energy Experts Group met again in Seoul in Feb, 2000 for a final set of revisions on the Web Site before making it open for access to the general public in April 2000.  The Site is still very much a work in progress, however, as the CSBM Working Group and Nuclear Energy Experts Group continue to work with the CMC to find ways to further expand and deepen regional participation.  This will include greater Russian and Canadian participation and an expansion beyond nuclear energy producers to include profiles on countries that have active nuclear research programs or are contemplating the use of nuclear energy.

In addition to the Nuclear Energy Experts Group activities, the full CSBM Working Group has convened twice thus far in 2000.  In April 2000, a second Preventive Diplomacy Workshop was convened, in Singapore, again in cooperation with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).  This Workshop built upon CSCAP’s earlier efforts to examine preventive diplomacy concepts and practices.  Using the 1999 Working Definition and Statement of Principles of Preventive Diplomacy as a guide, the Singapore Workshop conducted a review of past efforts, analysis, and recommendations both within CSCAP and by the ARF regarding the development of preventive diplomacy mechanisms.  The Workshop focus was on the identification of prospective tools that could be employed by the ARF in the development of preventive diplomacy mechanisms. 

The CSBM Working Group met again on 22-24 May, 2000 in Washington DC.  The meeting once again brought together regular CSBM Working Group participants with members of the Nuclear Energy Experts Group.  During this session, participants built upon the earlier efforts of both the overall CSBM Working Group and its Nuclear Energy Experts Group to identify, define, and promote regional CSBMs associated with the peaceful, safe, and transparent use of nuclear energy.  Broader military and other general security-related topics like alliances, missile proliferation, and missile defense were also discussed.  Participants also conducted a one day field trip to the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Station near Prince Frederick, Maryland, as part of its practical transparency program of on-site visits – previous visits included the Fukushima Power
Station in Japan and the Kori Power Station in the Republic of Korea.

Looking toward the future, the CSBM Working Group, both through its own efforts and through the efforts of its Nuclear Energy Experts Group, will continue to develop and refine the CSCAP Asia-Pacific Nuclear Energy Transparency Web Site with an eye toward making it even more comprehensive through the addition of information on nuclear energy research and reprocessing facilities, nuclear weapons-free zones, and plans and attitudes of current non-nuclear energy producing states.  The Working Group also hopes to conduct future visits to nuclear power facilities in Canada and China, among other locations.  The IWG is also considering broadening its discussion beyond nuclear energy to include energy security in all its forms. 

Working Group members also agreed that it was important to widen discussions to address other regional security concerns, including those dealing with non-proliferation, offensive and defensive missile developments, military alliances, and a better understanding of non-traditional security concerns.  The CSBM Working Group will also continue to closely monitor ARF activities to determine where it can best assist the ARF's examination of confidence building and preventive diplomacy issues and initiatives, including the development and assessment of security outlook documents.