Book:              The Many Faces of Asian Security

Edited By:        Sheldon W. Simon

Reviewed By:    Vijay Mehta

Publishers:       Rowan & Littlefield Publishers Inc. Oxford

Price:              £17.95

ISBN:              074-251-6652

There are hotspots from Korea to Kashmir, which are potential dangerous flash points for Asian Security. These trouble spots represent challenges to national unity, political stability, social harmony, economic progress, and territorial integrity. There is no peace in the world as long as armies continue to modernise & blood continues to be shed. The most prominent form of warfare to day is ethnic, tribal, and religious within and outside countries. Other challenges facing Asian security are financial panic of markets, globalisation, environmental hazards, transnational crime and corruption. All these undermine the legitimacy of governments in Asia. The book “Many faces of Asian Security” deal with all the above aspects in detail.

The book is the result of a conference on Asian Security held in Arizona State University in April 2000. As such it deals with traditional, non-traditional and the changing nature of security in Asia- Pacific and East Asia region.

The book is presented in two parts. Part 1 deals with military capabilities, balance of power and realist theory, territorial and resource disputes, the effects of new technology on military strategy and the problems involved in maintaining sovereignty in an era of globalisation.

Part two of the book introduces security issues, which have become particularly important to Asia after the cold War. It focuses on domestic situation as they effect not only themselves but also their neighbours. Coping with these spillover effects comprises one of the most important security challenges of the new era. The new security subjects include economic and financial stability, the effects of environmental degradation and human rights, and political stability, and the ill effects of transnational crime.

The book deals in detail role of international organisations like United Nations, a reinvented and expanded NATO, New Asian organisations ASEAN (Association of south East Asian Nations) along with US and international community into the internal politics of states in turmoil.

The surprising omission in the book is the conflict of two nuclear powers in Asia — India and Pakistan as potential of a war is real in that region.

The book was written before 11 September 2001 attack on the twin towers in New York. Hence the grave threat of terrorism, which has become a number one security issue in the world today is not dealt by the editor and authors of the book for which they cannot be blamed.

The book mainly concentrates on Northeast and Southeast Asia Security. In it Japan, China, and US are the key players. The areas of tension are the two Koreas and Taiwan. China’s military developed in future. Increasingly accurate Chinese ICBM’s for example could increase the probability of a crisis over Taiwan if Beijing believes the United States can deterred. Under these circumstances if the US chooses to remain forward deployed in Japan and Korea, it will have to develop land, air, sea and submersible missile launchers at considerable cost. If choose to withdraw from its bases in Japan and elsewhere in the region, there will be potential risk of destabilisation in Asia.

Also in Japan and other East Asian States. Initially robust, these economies went through an economic boon in 1980’s to mid 1990s and then Japan descended into a downward economic spiral, China devalued its currency in 1995. South East Asia exports were undercut and the region and economy began to fizzle. The level of private capital investment that prevailed in 1996 has not been restored again till now.

One of the most important new components of Asian Security agenda is the growth of transnational crime and drug trafficking. Open borders facilitate both the legitimate movement of people, goods and finances and also such nefarious products as drugs and illegal arms, as well as money laundering activities. Asian criminal organisation like the Japanese Yakuza and Chinese triads engage in temporary alliances to promote criminal acts and are a grave risks to the legitimacy of the governments and rule of law.

In conclusion the key in Asia stability remains in the hands of United States, China and Japan. US has played a role for past 25 years in the political and economic stability of the region for protecting their interest. The fear is that if US leave the region it will be at the mercy of Sino-Japanese rivalry. China has unresolved territorial claim on Taiwan. Japan has yet to show its neighbours that if it has sufficiently overcome its military legacy to become a normal nation. The Korean peninsula remains the most militarised place on earth and anti-American sentiment in Japan and elsewhere remains high. A military solution to Taiwan’s future would entail tremendous costs and destabilise East Asia for an extended period. A political settlement between Beijing and Taipei is the only solution and should be the focus of US policy in the area. A favourable outcome is not guaranteed but it needs all the skills and attention on part of US.

Asia future at the opening of the twenty first century holds both promise and risk. The challenge to leadership in all three countries is to manage differences and find political framework that will enhance peace, common interests especially economic and social development. The history of the twentieth century of East Asia does not give great confidence in such a future, but the costs of mismanagement are equally evident. No country in Asia can afford to go forward if it does not leave its past behind. A rich and provocative survey of security in East Asia by outstanding specialists.