Regional Security Arrangements in the East Asia Region.

Abstract

Abstract : East Asia, whilst an area of increasing global economic importance, remains a region of tension. Regional security challenges include transnational threats, territorial disputes and the threatened use of weapons of mass destruction, all of which challenge the stability essential to sustain economic development. Regional cooperation, particularly security cooperation, continues to develop through fora such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Both are critical to effective multilateralism in the region but must overcome the dual handicaps of ineffective regional leadership and the ASEAN' way if they are to contribute to regional stability and continued East Asian and global economic development. East Asia, whilst an area of increasing global economic importance, remains a region of tension. Regional security challenges include transnational threats, territorial disputes and the threatened use of weapons of mass destruction, all of which challenge the stability essential to sustain economic development. Regional cooperation, particularly security cooperation, continues to develop through fora such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Both are critical to effective multilateralism in the region but must overcome the dual handicaps of ineffective regional leadership and the ASEAN' way if they are to contribute to regional stability and continued East Asian and global economic development.