Books in the Routledge Security in Asia Pacific Series series

Explores the various dimensions of energy security in Asia - which has become an increasingly important geopolitical issue. This book looks at the roles played by each of the major energy importers: the United States, China, Japan and India, as well as the main suppliers: the OPEC states, Russia, the Central Asian states and Australia.

The South China Sea is a major strategic waterway for trade and oil shipments to Japan, Korea as well as southern China. It has been the focus of a maritime dispute which has continued now for over six decades, with competing claims from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei. Recently China has become more assertive in pressing its claims ΓÇô harassing Vietnamese fishing vessels and seizing reefs in the Philippine claim zone. China has insisted that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the area and has threatened to enforce its claim. All of this is unsettling and draws in the United States which is concerned about freedom of navigation in the area. The US has been supporting the Philippines and has been developing security ties with Vietnam as a check upon China. This book examines the conflict potential of the current dispute, it discusses how the main claimants and the United States view the issue, and assesses the prospects for a resolution of the problem.

Many scholars of international relations in Asia regard bilateralism and multilateralism as alternative and mutually exclusive approaches to security co-operation in the region, arguing that eventually multilateral associations such as ASEAN will in time replace the system of bilateral alliances which were the predominant form of security co-operation in Cold War times and which continue as the primary means of the United States¿ engagement with the region, for example the US alliances with Japan and South Korea. This book contends, on the other hand, that bilateralism and multilateralism are not mutually exclusive, and that bilateralism is likely to continue strong even as multilateralism strengthens.

This book considers the changing nature of Australiäs identity and role in the Asia-Pacific, and the forces behind these developments, with particular attention towards security alignments and alliance relationships.

Considers the impact of changes in American foreign policy on the East Asian region, as well as the nature of American policy itself. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to, and analysis of, the Bush administration's relations with twenty-first century's most dynamic and strategically significant region.

Barack Obamäs "rebalancing strategy" or "pivot strategy", intended to demonstrate continued US commitment to the Asia Pacific region in a variety of military, economic and diplomatic contexts, was launched with much fanfare in 2011. Implicit in the new strategy is a focus on China and also a US relience on existing regional allies to implement its strategy. This book explores the impact of the new strategy on the US¿s allies in the region, and the allies¿ responses. Overall, the book outlines the deep complexities of the United States¿ exercise of power and influence in the region.

Considers the changing nature of Australia's identity and role in the Asia-Pacific, and the forces behind these developments, with attention towards security alignments and alliance relationships. This book outlines Australia's traditional role as a regional middle power and the patterns of its reliance on security alignments and alliances.

The South China Sea has long been regarded as a major source of tension in East Asia. This book examines international politics and security in the South China Sea, exploring the history of the disputes, attempts to resolve them, and new security threats including piracy, terrorism, resource and environmental management.

The rising demand for energy, the higher costs of oil and gas, and the association of fossil fuels with adverse climate change have all brought a renewed interest in nuclear energy. Nuclear power, however, is itself controversial, because of its costs, its environmental effects and the security risks it poses. This book discusses these critical issues surrounding nuclear power in relation to Asia. It discusses also the politics of nuclear power and the activities of civil society organisations concerned about nuclear issues. Throughout the book the perspectives are included of both proponents and opponents of nuclear power on the key controversial issues.

Maritime issues are particularly important for Asian countries, where there is a high reliance on shipping routes for international trade, many difficult disputes over maritime boundaries, and the prospect of increasing tensions where maritime power might play a significant role. This book provides a comprehensive survey of the maritime issues affecting Asia.

This book examines the evolving multilateral security arrangements in East Asia. It discusses the role of ASEAN, highlighting its successes and its deficiencies, including the fact that it is confined to Southeast Asia and has among its members none of the major East Asian powers nor any of the external powers such as the United States which have a strong interest in the region.

Examining the prospects for building a regional community in Northeast Asia, this book considers the foreign policies of the individual states as well as the impact of domestic politics on the regionalist agenda. It also outlines the emerging Northeast Asian community and the domestic requisites for its evolution and realization.

Examines the maritime security scene in Southeast Asia. This title considers highly topical implications for the region of possible strategic competition between China and India - the rising naval powers of Asia - with a possible naval 'arms race' emerging between these countries both with naval force development and operations.

Examines the key motivations for and challenges to greater regional integration in Southeast Asia. This book demonstrates how security and economic concerns -domestic, regional and international - have either contributed to, or detracted from, an increased level of unity and cooperation in ASEAN.

There is a growing interest in human security in Southeast Asia. This book explores the theoretical and conceptual basis of human security. It shows how human security has been taken up as a central part of security policy in individual states in Southeast Asia, as well as in the regional security policy.

Examining the prospects for building a regional community in Northeast Asia, this book considers the foreign policies of the individual states, as well as the impact of domestic politics on the regionalist agenda.

"e;Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada"e;--T.p. verso.

Geopolitics is a crucial element in understanding international relations in East Asia, with major and medium powers competing for influence. This book examines geopolitics in East Asia, focusing in particular on its major, contentious maritime territorial disputes.

"South Asiäs Nuclear Security provides a detailed account of the nuclear security predicament in South Asia. From the perspectives of both the optimists and pessimists, Chakma elaborates on the multitude of factors that have contributed to the ever-tumultuous Indo-Pakistani security relations. Each chapter contains a rich bibliographical reference section highlighting a very detailed analysis of the nuclear issue in the region...Chakma provides an important and prominent case for the advancement of sub-systemic approaches to security, highlighting the need in understanding sub- systemic security dynamics as well."Bibek Chand, Florida International University, USAJournal of Asian Security and International Affairs 2015, 341-343

Explores international politics and security in the South China Sea. This book outlines the history of the South China Sea disputes, and the efforts that have been made to resolve these, assessing the broader strategic significance of the region for major geopolitical powers.

Explores human security in East Asia, focusing in particular on the challenges to collaboration among actors involved in the process of human security promotion. This book considers case studies of military interventions in East Asia, in particular East Timor, and assesses how successful collaborative efforts have been in providing human security.

Examines Japan's identity as an important participant in conflict prevention and peace-building in Southeast and South Asia. This book describes the attempts by Japan to bring peace to Aceh, Sri Lanka, East Timor and Mindanao.

Provides an account of the evolution of a key axis of regional stability - defence contacts between Japan and Australia, tracing the relationship from the early post-war period. This book explores the evolution of the relationship in the context of Asia-Pacific security, addressing regional, sub-regional and transnational issues.

This book examines the nature of political transitions in Southeast Asia and why political transitions toward political liberalisation and democracy have failed to take off. It considers political systems in the region that have gone through significant periods of transition but continue to face serious challenges toward democratic consolidation.

Covers US sanctions policy in the Asia-Pacific. Using the Bill Clinton and George W Bush presidencies as a basis for comparison, this book examines nine prominent episodes involving the US use of sanctions toward countries in this economically and strategically vital part of the world.

The United States is now the most powerful nation in history, and this power has grown since September 11, 2001, forcing nations around the globe to re-evaluate their relationships to the unipolar superpower. This book details the changing nature of power relations in East Asia, and includes case studies on China, Japan, Thailand, and Australia.

Pakistan is a vitally important country in the contemporary global political system. This book provides a comprehensive study of a nuclear-armed Pakistan, investigating the implications of its emergence as a nuclear weapons state.

This book makes an important and timely contribution to debates about the relationship between climate change and security in Southeast Asia. It does so through a human security lens, drawing on local and regional expertise to discuss the threats that climate change poses to human security in Southeast Asia and to show how a human security approach draws attention to the importance of adaptation and strategies for social resilience. In doing so, it exposes the consequences of climate change, the impact on community rights and access, the special problem of border areas, before going on to investigate local and regional strategies for addressing the human security challenges of climate change.