Taking Disaster Seriously: East Asian Military Involvement in International Disaster Relief Operations and the Implications for Force Projection

Abstract

The participation of East Asian militaries (Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea) in international disaster relief is a relatively new phenomenon having many implications that will shape the global landscape of the 21st century. This article looks at the historical record of these operations and notes how they have evolved in size and scope over time. Empirical data are presented and analyzed to identify and compare demonstrated capacities for force projection. These demonstrated capacities are considered with current and future capabilities to contemplate the trajectory of the militaries' future participation in disaster relief and ability for force projection. Finally, the article concludes with a brief assessment of implications and policy considerations. For helpful comments and suggestions, the author thanks Cortez A. Cooper, Michael J. Lostumbo, Andrew Scobell, Bruce M. Sugden, and two anonymous reviewers. The author is thankful for generous financial support from the Tang Institute for US–China Relations through the Center for Asia–Pacific Policy at the RAND Corporation.