Trade Commerce and Security Challenges in the Asia Pacific Region by Y. K. Gera

Author:Y. K. Gera [Gera, Y. K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Globalization, Political Science, Security (National & International)
ISBN: 9789382652083
Google: Z5BzGtMfaegC
Goodreads: 28405756
Publisher: VIJ BOOKS INDIA
Published: 2013-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Session-Ill

Panel-1

Third Paper

Sr Col (Ms) Do Mai Khanh

Future Security Challenges and Opportunities

Asia Pacific is one of the most important regions in terms of geopolitics and geo-economy, which comprises vital sea lanes of communication, linking Pacific to Indian Ocean. Asia Pacific embeds almost world powers, makes up half of the world’s population and is rich in natural resources. It has become the most dynamic region of the world with emerging economies and growing linkage and integration. It attracts ever- increasing attention from other extra-regional countries.

However, in the context of current geopolitics change and shift, regional security issues are emerging as challenges to sustainable peace and stability. The increasing engagement by major powers into the region also means increase in potential clashes of interest among them. Such a security environment requires more responsibility and efforts by regional countries to ensure peace, stability and development.

Most of the history of the 21st century will be written in Asia and Asia Pacific will bear both security challenges and opportunities.

Future Security Challenges

Power competition

Major Powers’ engagement in the region, on one hand creates more opportunities for promoting regional cooperation and integration, and on the other hand, would turn the region into area of their potential influence. In this context, the Sino-US relation continues to be seen as the most important element in shaping regional security architecture and influencing other relations. Although, facing difficulties in its economic development and consequent relative decline of its strength, the US is still the superpower of the world. In the past decades, China has grown at a faster pace, thus challenging the US’s status. China is now the US’s biggest rival in the world, especially in the Asia Pacific region. The US-Sino relation embraces the intertwined cooperative and competitive factors. In a globalised world, the US and China are more interdependent, especially in economic terms. Besides, one needs the other’s support and cooperation in regional and international issues.

Competition and clashes of interest among major powers affect the region as well as regional countries which might be drawn into competition.

Territorial and Maritime Disputes

There exist many territorial disputes in almost every part of Asia Pacific. Given the growing importance of the sea, maritime disputes over islands and waters will continue to be complicated, threatening the peace and stability of the region. Many countries depend on seas for their development. They go to seas, exploring and exploiting natural resources for their development. They also project their power and capabilities in seas to expand their space of controls and influence, protect their interest at sea and guarantee safe vital sea lanes of communication for transportation. These actions would result in more disputes and clashes at sea. In addition, the growing nationalism, instability and domestic politics of some regional countries would increase the danger of tension and conflicts concerning the disputes. The region will need more effective mechanisms which could facilitate the settlement of disputes and prevent possible conflicts.

Arms Race

Arms race is seen as a potential threat to the security of the region. In recent years, regional countries have increased their defence budgets.

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