yes
Power, weakness, greed, control, fear. Did I leave anything out?
The same reason as the other countries that have nuclear power plans. Firstly to show off power. The other reason : Fear. Not even for energy generation, nuclear capability is justified due to the high risk that nuclear power plants represent.
Lackofperspectiveandeducationobia.
Most democratic countries feared that if communist nations had nuclear power, they would have the power to overthrow any democratic government and create a new one world communist government.
It was a nuclear bomb. Everyone was afraid of a nuclear bomb. The nuclear power plant malfunctioned. The Cold War was about fear of nuclear attack.
fear of the waste.
Nuclear power plants are expensive to build and need highly trained engineers to operate. Fear of a nuclear accident and fear of nuclear waste mean many people don't want nuclear plants to be built near them.
Australia & New Zealand were part of ANZUS and SEATO during the Viet War; Both countries are located in the Asian Sphere, there was no fear of Nationalist China (Taiwan) as it was an ally during the Cold War.
No one should have nuclear weapons! I agree they cause nothing but problems. All they do is grant people power to kill and strike fear in the world. There is nothing good that can come from nuclear weapons.
Some major problems associated with generating electricity using nuclear power plants include the risk of accidents leading to radioactive releases, the challenge of long-term disposal of nuclear waste, and the potential for nuclear proliferation if materials are not properly secured. Additionally, the high cost of building and maintaining nuclear power plants and public fear of nuclear accidents can also be significant issues.
Countries use nuclear bombs to pronounce dominance to the world and show that they are not to be messed with. They are also a quick, extremely hard blow that kill many and can end conflict extremely fast, like in WWII the United States dropped two bombs on Japan and very soon afterwards, Japan surrendered because the fear of more bombs had weakoned civilian morale and Japan could not take another hit like that.
Atomosophobia - fear of atomic explosions.