Julius Cesar I. Trajano is Research Fellow with the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He obtained his Master of Science degree in Asian Studies from RSIS (2011), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences-Area Studies (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of the Philippines (2006). Mr Trajano conducts policy research studies and has publications (book chapters, articles, op-ed commentaries, policy reports) on non-traditional security issues, particularly on marine environmental protection in Southeast Asia, nuclear security and safety governance in East Asia, internal conflicts, and human trafficking. He is also presently the coordinating chair for the Asia Working Group of the International Nuclear Security Education Network and is a member of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific- Nuclear Energy Experts Group.

• Human Security, with Emphasis on Political and Economic Security
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response
• Ethnic Conflicts and Separatism in Southeast Asia
• Human Rights and Democratisation Issues in Southeast Asia
• Energy Security, Particularly Nuclear Energy Governance
• Traditional Security Issues in the Asia-Pacific, Particularly South China Sea Disputes

• Member of the Leadership Team of the International Nuclear Security Education Network (2018-2022)
• Member of the Nuclear Energy Experts Group of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (2015-present)
• Member of the Southeast Asia Security Sector Governance Network and Asia-Pacific Security Sector Governance Network (2019-present)

Policy Reports

• Turning the Tide on Southeast Asia’s Plastic Pollution Crisis

  28 February, 2023

• The Future of Work: Building a Social Protection Agenda for Online Workers in Southeast Asia

  19 April, 2022

• Tackling East Asia's New Environmental Challenge – Marine Plastic Pollution

  20 June, 2019

• Advancing Non-Traditional Security Governance through Multi-stakeholder Collaboration

  13 June, 2019

• Advancing Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea

  26 November, 2018

• Building Resilience from within: Enhancing Humanitarian Civil-military Coordination in Post-Haiyan Philippines

  16 December, 2016

• The Sustainability of Nuclear Energy in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges

  17 October, 2014

RSIS Commentary Series

• Biosecurity in the Age of AI: Risks and Opportunities

  05 May, 2025

• Biosecurity Awareness and Education in Southeast Asia

  27 January, 2025

• Cyberbiosecurity: Adapting to Emerging Threats in the Biosecurity Landscape

  17 October, 2024

• Is Southeast Asia’s Nuclear Power Ambition Within Reach?

  15 August, 2024

• The COP28 Pledge to Accelerate Nuclear Power Capacity

  19 December, 2023

• Advances in Biotechnology: The Need to Strengthen Biosecurity

  14 December, 2023

• Fukushima Water Release: Trusting Scientific Innovation and Nuclear Safety Regime

  28 August, 2023

• ASEAN’s Growing Agenda on Nuclear Security

  31 July, 2023

• Small Modular Reactors in the Philippines’ Journey Toward Nuclear Energy

  05 December, 2022

• Human Development and Mental Health: New Approaches and Metrics Needed

  28 September, 2022

• Reviving Nuclear Power: Is the Philippines Ready?

  08 March, 2022

• Plastic Pollution in Southeast Asia: Wasted Opportunity?

  10 February, 2022

• COP26: The Indispensable Role of Nuclear Power

  11 November, 2021

• The Aquino Legacy: Implications for 2022 Elections

  25 June, 2021

• Whitsun Reef Incident: Duterte’s China Strategy Sinking?

  19 April, 2021

• US-Philippines: Resetting the Security Alliance?

  24 February, 2021

• Battling Marine Plastic Waste: Nuclear Technology's Role

  03 February, 2021

• Nuclear Technology and Disease Prevention: What ASEAN Can Do

  25 March, 2020

• Combating Marine Debris: What After the Bangkok Declaration?

  08 July, 2019

• CO18142 | Missing Iridium: Enhancing Regional Nuclear Security

  29 August, 2018

• CO17113 | Marine Environmental Protection and Cooperation: An ASEAN-China Framework?

  06 June, 2017

• CO17045 | Fukushima Six Years After: East Asia’s Nuclear Energy Conundrum

  16 March, 2017

• CO16250 | Floating Nuclear Power Plants: Are They Safe and Secure?

  07 October, 2016

• CO16149 | Road To Low-Carbon ASEAN Community

  17 June, 2016

• CO16106 | Cheaper Fossil Fuels: The Relevance of Nuclear Energy

  09 May, 2016

• CO16058 | Five Years After Fukushima: Southeast Asia’s Nuclear Dilemma

  17 March, 2016

• CO15227 | Strengthening Energy Security: Key to Sustainable Development in Asia

  26 October, 2015

• CO15135 | An ASEAN Nuclear Crisis Centre: Preparing for a Technological Disaster in Southeast Asia

  09 June, 2015

• CO15100 | Nepal Earthquake: Enhancing International Humanitarian Cooperation

  27 April, 2015

• CO15025 | Nuclear Safety in Southeast Asia: Lessons from the Nuclear Pioneers

  09 February, 2015

• CO14244 | Lessons of Two Disasters: Building Resilience from Within

  09 December, 2014

• CO14237 | Renewable Energy in Southeast Asia: Priorities and Commitments Needed

  28 November, 2014

• CO14216 | Can ASEAN Develop a Robust Nuclear Energy Regime?

  04 November, 2014

• CO13211 | Typhoon Haiyan's Aftermath: Testing Resilience in Complex Emergencies

  15 November, 2013

• CO13146 | Japan-Philippines Strategic Partnership: Converging Threat Perceptions

  05 August, 2013

• CO13095 | Taiwan-Philippines Diplomatic Row: Should Manila Blink First?

  16 May, 2013

• CO13080 | Achieving the ASEAN Economic Community: Are the Philippines and Indonesia Ready for 2015?

  30 April, 2013

• CO13037 | Japan-Philippine Relations: New Dynamics in Strategic Partnership

  28 February, 2013

• CO13018 | Indonesia and the Philippines: Political dynasties in democratic states

  31 January, 2013

• CO12227 | Between Developmentalism and Populism: Waling a Tightrope in Southeasat Asia

  17 December, 2012

• CO12186 | Dealing with the Legacy of Dictatorship: Indonesia and Philippines

  05 October, 2012

• CO12154 | US Alliances with the Philippines and Thailand: Partnerships or Interests?

  15 August, 2012

• CO12111 | Myanmar: Learning from the Philippines’ democratic transition

  27 June, 2012

Commemorative / Event Reports

• Consultative Roundtable on the Humanitarian Dimension and Protection Aspects of Trafficking in Persons

  01 February, 2015

• ASEAN-Canada Forum 2014: Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Growth

  22 November, 2014

• Workshop on Community Resilience and Human Security: From Complex Humanitarian Emergencies to Sustainable Peace and Development

  02 October, 2014

• Workshop on Community Resilience and Human Security: From Complex Humanitarian Emergencies to Sustainable Peace and Development

  02 October, 2014

NTS Insight

• The Future of Small Modular Reactors: Implications for Nuclear Governance

  07 July, 2023

• Expanding the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology and Climate Change Adaptation: Opportunities and Challenges

  18 August, 2022

• A Rights-Based Approach to Governing Online Freelance Labour: Towards Decent Work in Digital Labour Platforms

  04 August, 2021

• Building a Culture of Prevention for Occupational Safety and Health in the Face of a Pandemic: Lessons from the Nuclear Safety Culture

  29 June, 2020

• Resource Sharing and Joint Development in the South China Sea: Exploring Avenues of Cooperation

  11 March, 2019

• Combatting Human Trafficking in East Asia: Mind the Gaps

  20 July, 2018

• Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea: Challenges and Prospects Part 2

  20 February, 2018

• Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea: Challenges and Prospects Part I

  11 December, 2017

Journal Articles

• “Examining Southeast Asia’s Diplomacy on Nuclear Disarmament and Nuclear Security: Shared Norms and a Regional Agenda” (with Mely Caballero-Anthony) in Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2022. pp. 461-485
• “Ready for Nuclear Energy?: A Policy Review of the Philippines’ Nuclear Energy Plan and Participation in the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy” in International Journal of Nuclear Security, Vol. 7, No. 1 , 2022, Article 16
• “Towards a Comprehensive Security Alliance: Evolving Dynamics in the United States’ Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief to the Philippines” in Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, Vol. 6, Special Issue, 2021
• “Bottom-up Peacebuilding: Role of Grassroots and Local Actors in the Mindanao Peace Process” in Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2020, pp. 357-372. doi: 10.18588/202011.00a097
• “The Future of Nuclear Security in the Asia-Pacific: Expanding the Role of Southeast Asia” (with Mely Caballero-Anthony) in International Journal of Nuclear Security, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2020. Article 8
• “A Policy Analysis of Nuclear Safety Culture and Security Culture in East Asia: Examining Best Practices and Challenges, Nuclear Engineering and Technology” in A Policy Analysis of Nuclear Safety Culture and Security Culture in East Asia: Examining Best Practices and Challenges, Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Vol. 51, , 2019,
• Julius Cesar I. Trajano. Cheaper Fossil Fuels: The Relevance of Nuclear Energy
• “The State of Nuclear Energy in ASEAN: Regional Norms and Challenges” (with Mely Caballero-Anthony) in Asian Perspective, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2015. pp. 695–724
• Trajano, Julius Cesar I. "Conflits territoriaux Philippines-Chine : Statu quo fragile [Philippines-China Territorial Conflict: Fragile Status Quo]." Study of the Southeast Asia Observatory 1 (2014): 15-18.
• Trajano, Julius Cesar I. "Ethnic Nationalism and Separatism in West Papua, Indonesia." Journal of Peace, Conflict and Development 16 (2010): 12-35.

Edited Books / Special Issues

• Nuclear Governance in the Asia-Pacific (with Mely Caballero-Anthony), Eds. Singapore: Routledge, 2022

Chapters in Edited Books

• “Re-Energizing the Philippines’ Nuclear Power Program: Opportunities and Challenges” in David Santoro and Carl Baker (eds), Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Transition: A Role for Nuclear Power? Issues & Insights Vol. 23, SR7. Honolulu: Pacific Forum, 2023, pp. 66-73
• “Introduction: Nuclear Governance in the Asia-Pacific” (with Mely Caballero-Anthony) in Mely Caballero-Anthony and Julius Cesar Trajano (Eds.), Nuclear Governance in the Asia-Pacific. New York and London: Routledge, 2022, pp. 1 – 13.
• “Forced Displacement and Economic Development: Assessing the Impacts of China-Funded Projects in Myanmar” in Brahma Chellaney and Frederick Kliem (Eds.), The Displaced: Disrupted Trade, Labour, and Politics in the Mekong River Basin. Tokyo: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS), 2022, pp. 56-79
• “Covid-19 and Security Sector Responses in Southeast Asia” in Albrecht Schnabel, Upasana Garoo, Rohit Karki and Kevin Socquet-Clerc (Eds.), Security Sector Responses to Covid-19 in the Asia-Pacific Region: Reflections on an Ongoing Health Crisis.. Geneva: DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, 2021, pp.127-205
• “Post-Nuclear Security Summits: The Need for Nuclear Security Cooperation in Southeast Asia” in Alistair D.B. Cook and Tamara Nair (eds.), Non-Traditional Security in the Asia-Pacific: A Decade of Perspective. Singapore: World Scientific, 2021, pp. 77-82
• “The Humanitarian Face of US-Philippines Security Alliance: Humanitarian Partners, Friends and Allies” in Alistair D.B. Cook and Lina Gong (eds.), Humanitarianism in the Asia-Pacific: Engaging the Debate in Policy and Practice. Singapore: Springer, 2021, pp. 73-77
• “Advancing a Regional Pathway to Enhance Nuclear Energy Governance in Southeast Asia” in Mely Caballero-Anthony and Lina Gong(Eds.), Non-Traditional Security Issues in ASEAN: Agendas for Action. Singapore: ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, 2020, Chap 6
• “Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea” (with Lina Gong, Margareth Sembiring, and Rini Astuti) in Mely Caballero-Anthony and Lina Gong (Eds.), Non-Traditional Security Issues in ASEAN: Agendas for Action. Singapore: ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, 2020, Chap 4
• “Trafficking in Persons” (with Yen Ne Foo) in Mely Caballero-Anthony and Lina Gong(Eds.), Non-Traditional Security Issues in ASEAN: Agendas for Action. Singapore: ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, 2020, Chap 7
• Mely Caballero-Anthony and Julius Cesar Trajano, 2017, “Enhancing nuclear energy cooperation in ASEAN: Regional norms and challenges.” Chapter 7 in Peter Van Ness, Mel Gurtov (eds.) Learning from Fukushima : Nuclear Power in East Asia. Canberra: Australia National University Press.

Policy Reports

• Emerging Biosecurity Landscape in Southeast Asia-Updated Report (Executive Summary) (with Mely Caballero-Anthony, Jose Ma. Luis P. Montesclaros, and Jeselyn), Emerging Biosecurity Landscape in Southeast Asia - Updated Report (Executive Summary), Centre For Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, 17 March 2025
• Emerging Biosecurity Landscape in Southeast Asia (with Mely Caballero-Anthony, Jose Ma. Luis P. Montesclaros, and Jeselyn), Emerging Biosecurity Landscape in Southeast Asia , Centre For Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, 16 September 2024
• Climate Change and Its Impact on Peace and Security in Southeast Asia (with Mely Caballero-Anthony, Alistair D. B. Cook, S. Nanthini, Jose Ma. Luis P. Montesclaros, Keith Paolo Catibog Landicho, and Danielle Lynn Goh), Climate Change and Its Impact on Peace and Security in Southeast Asia, Centre For Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, 23 January 2024
• Enhancing Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response in ASEAN and Beyond: Regional Practices and Challenges, APLN Policy Brief, Seoul: Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, 25 April 2023
• Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: Regional Collaborative Arrangements in Marine Ecology in the Indo-Pacific Baseline Study (with Margareth Sembiring, and Lina Gong), Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: Regional Collaborative Arrangements in Marine Ecology in the Indo-Pacific Baseline Study, Canberra: National Security College, ANU and Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 1 July 2022

Op-Eds

• “Manila embraces the United States despite Duterte’s neglect”, East Asia Forum, 19 May 2021
• “Peacebuilding from the grassroots: Resolving conflicts in Mindanao.”, Asia Dialogue, University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute, 5 April 2019
• “Stopping dirty bombs in Southeast Asia” (with Mely Caballero-Anthony), East Asia Forum, 4 December 2018
• “Lessons of Two Disasters: Building Resilience from Within” (with Mely Caballero-Anthony), RSIS Commentary, 9 December, 9 December 2014. Republished in The New Straits Times, 20 December 2014 (as “Building Resilience from Within”) and ReliefWeb, 9 December 2014.
• Trajano, Julius Cesar I. "Philippines-US Pact Shows a Human Face." Asia Times Online, April 29, 2014. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-290414.html.
• Trajano, Julius Cesar I. "PHL Walks Tightrope Between US and China." GMA News, May 2, 2012. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/256884/opinion/phl-walks-tightrope-between-us-and-china.