Session 3 Geopolitical Framework and Main Security Issues in East Asia

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Lecturer: Dr. Guido Benny

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0163180289

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN EAST ASIA (SKSA 6103)

3. Geopolitical Framework and Main Security Issues

�Geopolitical Framework in

Northeast Asia

GEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIAGEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIAGEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIAGEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIA

2Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis,

Price, Wyckoff

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�Cold War rivalries split Northeast Asia�The Evolution of China

�Original core was the North China Plain and Loess Plateau�China unified in 3rd Century B.C.; efforts to conquer Korea

� The Manchu Ch’ing Dynasty�Manchu Dynasty in power 1644 to well into 19th century

� The Modern Era� In 1800s, China failed to keep pace with technological

progress, and the empire declined�British used opium in lieu of silver to buy Chinese goods,

setting off the Opium Wars, resulting in colonization�China divided into colonial “Spheres of Influence”

The Geopolitical Framework and Its Evolution: The Geopolitical Framework and Its Evolution: The Geopolitical Framework and Its Evolution: The Geopolitical Framework and Its Evolution:

The Imperial Legacies of China and JapanThe Imperial Legacies of China and JapanThe Imperial Legacies of China and JapanThe Imperial Legacies of China and Japan

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19191919thththth Century European Colonialism (Fig. 11.25)Century European Colonialism (Fig. 11.25)Century European Colonialism (Fig. 11.25)Century European Colonialism (Fig. 11.25)

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�The Rise of Japan � Japan emerged as a unified state in 7th century A.D.� Was divided several times between 1000 and 1580 A.D.

� The Closing and Opening of Japan� Tokugawa Shogunate reunited Japan in 1600s, established an

isolationist policy� Shogun: a military leader who theoretically remains under the

emperor but who actually holds power� Meiji Restoration (1868): strengthened government and economy

� The Japanese Empire� Period of modernization and military building� War with China, Russia; annexation of Korea� War with the U.S. occurred after Japanese efforts to unite East and

Southeast Asia (“Greater Northeast Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”)


The Imperial Legacies of China and JapanThe Imperial Legacies of China and JapanThe Imperial Legacies of China and JapanThe Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)(cont.)(cont.)(cont.)

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�Postwar Geopolitics� Japan’s Revival

� Territory reduced to four main Japanese islands and the Ryukyu Archipelago

� The Division of Korea

� Divided by the U.S. and the Soviet Union after Korean War

� The Division of China

� Mao Zedong and the communists vs. the nationalists (who favored an authoritarian, capitalist economy)

� Communists victorious in 1949

� Nationalists fled to Taiwan


The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)

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�Postwar Geopolitics (cont.)� The Chinese Territorial Domain� Occupation of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia� Paracel and Spratly islands� China reclaimed Hong Kong in 1997

� The Global Dimension of Northeast Asian Geopolitics� End of Cold War and China’s economic growth shifted the

balance of power in the region� Increasing military budget in China; China has world’s largest

army, nuclear weapons, sophisticated missile technology� China’s human rights record� Improved relations between China and the U.S.


The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)The Imperial Legacies of China and Japan (cont.)


Price, Wyckoff

�Geopolitical Framework in

Southeast Asia

GEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIAGEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIAGEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIAGEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK IN EAST ASIA


Price, Wyckoff

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� 10 geopolitical states� Southeast Asian countries have joined together under the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

� Before European Colonialism� Most of the Southeast Asian countries existed as independent

kingdoms before Europeans arrived

� The Colonial Era� Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive (around 1500) in

Melaka and then fled to eastern Indonesia � Dutch arrived in 1600s, followed by the British� Dutch became the most powerful in the region

� U.S. was the final colonial influence, in Philippines (1898)� Decolonization was completed in 1963

Geopolitical Framework in the Southeast AsiaGeopolitical Framework in the Southeast AsiaGeopolitical Framework in the Southeast AsiaGeopolitical Framework in the Southeast Asia

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Colonial Southeast AsiaColonial Southeast AsiaColonial Southeast AsiaColonial Southeast Asia

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�The Vietnam War and Its Aftermath� France determined to maintain control of its Southeast Asian

colonies� War between communist forces in the north and French in the

south� Geneva Agreement in 1954 partitioned the country into north and

south halves (North Vietnam, South Vietnam)� Communist guerrillas in the south, Pathet Lao forces in Laos, and

the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia all fought to expel western influences

� Using the domino theory (fear that if Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of S.E. Asia would follow), the U.S. sent troops to the region

� U.S. defeat and withdrawal 1973–1975� Refugees from the region as a result, including many migrating

to the U.S.

Geopolitical Framework in SEA (cont.)Geopolitical Framework in SEA (cont.)Geopolitical Framework in SEA (cont.)Geopolitical Framework in SEA (cont.)

�TRADITIONAL/CONVENTIONAL

SECURITY

MAIN SECURITY ISSUES IN EAST ASIAMAIN SECURITY ISSUES IN EAST ASIAMAIN SECURITY ISSUES IN EAST ASIAMAIN SECURITY ISSUES IN EAST ASIA

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Defining Traditional SecurityDefining Traditional SecurityDefining Traditional SecurityDefining Traditional Security

► Traditional security dominated by realist theory of

international politics

► It is about geo-politics, deterrence, power balancing and

military strategy

► The state and its defence from external military attacks is the

exclusive focus of security policy:

► Security confined to deliberate threats (primarily of a military nature) to physical security of state

What is NonWhat is NonWhat is NonWhat is Non----Traditional Security (NTS)?Traditional Security (NTS)?Traditional Security (NTS)?Traditional Security (NTS)?

►It focuses primarily on non-military challenges to security

►Post cold war era, reduced justification for huge expenditure

for ensuring state security

►NTS incorporates the state as a primary referent object of

security but also moves beyond it by including other issues like

human security

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What is “Referent Object”?What is “Referent Object”?What is “Referent Object”?What is “Referent Object”?

The traditional policy of national security, where the referent object of security is the state, is now accompanied by a new policy of human security, which emphasizes the individual as the referent object of security.

Traditional

► Coercive diplomacy

► The Role Of Intelligence

► Weapons of Mass Destruction

► Terrorism

► Humanitarian intervention

► Energy security

► The Defence Trade

Non-Traditional

► Health and security

� food

� water

► Transnational Crime

► Child soldiers

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What do these NTS issues have in common?What do these NTS issues have in common?What do these NTS issues have in common?What do these NTS issues have in common?

►They are all trans-national in character and defined in political

and socio-economic terms and not in military terms

►Not new security concerns but intensified and spread by

forces of globalization

Sectors

Environ-mental

Societal

Economic Regime

Military

5 Sectors of Security

Military Security : State perceiving security through military power against external threats

Regime Security : A security sector configured to protect a regime rather than human security

Societal securitycan be defined as the maintenance of distinct ethno-national and religious identities

Societies are units formed by a sense of collective identityWhere collective identity is

defined it enables the word ‘we’ to be used

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Sectors

Environ-mental

Societal

Economic Regime

Military

5 Sectors of Security

Environmental security maybe defined as the ability of individuals to avoid or adapt to environmental change so that things that are important to their well-being are not substantially negatively affected.

Economic securitycan be defined as the condition of having stable income or other resources to support a standard of living now and in the foreseeable future.

�Traditional/Conventional Security studies of East Asia focus on oquestions of inter-state war and peace

o the distribution of power in the region

o the ways regional institutions mitigate the role of relative power balances and alliance structures

� Level of institutionalized cooperation remains lowoWithdrawal of Soviet and scale-down of U.S. forward troops

deployment

oAsian financial crisis of 1997/98: economic instability

oEconomies of the Asia-Pacific deepening their tiesChain of production

oDirect foreign investment flows

TRADITIONAL SECURITY STUDIES TRADITIONAL SECURITY STUDIES TRADITIONAL SECURITY STUDIES TRADITIONAL SECURITY STUDIES

OF EAST ASIAOF EAST ASIAOF EAST ASIAOF EAST ASIA

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China’s military movement in AP

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1. Increasing defence budget

2. Military build-up (or modernization?)

3. Assertive movements in handling territorial disputes in East

Asia and Southeast Asia particularly in

- East China Sea

- South China Sea

Territorial claims in South China SeaTerritorial claims in South China SeaTerritorial claims in South China SeaTerritorial claims in South China Sea

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China’s passport problemChina’s passport problemChina’s passport problemChina’s passport problem

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China’s military movement in APChina’s military movement in APChina’s military movement in APChina’s military movement in AP

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South China Sea

- Escalation of territorial claims

- Deploment of military as well as non-military staff to disputing islands

- Deployment of China naval force in the conflicting areas

- Detainment of conflicting parties’ personals

- China’s approach Vs ASEAN approach

+ Economy&political influence to some ASEAN countries

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US’ Military Movement in APUS’ Military Movement in APUS’ Military Movement in APUS’ Military Movement in AP

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1. Increasing defence budget

2. Strong US presence in Asia (reassurance?)

a) USPACOM

b) US alliances in the region

c) Military equipment in Japan and South Korea

d) Military deployment in Australia

e) Increasing number of submarines

USUSUSUS----China cooperationChina cooperationChina cooperationChina cooperation

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�Military Maritime Consultation Agreement (sin1998)

Absent in 2007, divergent of interests since 2008

�Defence Policy Coordination (sin. 2006)

� Incidents at Sea Protocol (INCSEA) signed 1972

Undecided, problematic since 2009

�Defence Consultative Talks (DCT)

�US-China Joint Statement Nov 2009

� Six-Party Talk

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Geopolitical Geopolitical Geopolitical Geopolitical Tensions in Northeast AsiaTensions in Northeast AsiaTensions in Northeast AsiaTensions in Northeast Asia

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�Geopolitical Tensions in Contemporary Southeast Asia� Conflicts in Indonesia� War in Irian Jaya for independence from Dutch, joined Indonesia� East Timor independence (1999)� Other independence movements in Indonesia� Political tensions between Muslim groups in Java (Indonesia)

� Regional Tensions in the Philippines� Persistent problems in Islamic southwest, and possible links to Al

Qaeda network� Burma’s Many Problems� Conflict between the Burmans and non-Burman societies� The Shan, United Wa State Army, the Karen, The Mon

Geopolitical Tensions Geopolitical Tensions Geopolitical Tensions Geopolitical Tensions in in in in Contemporary Southeast AsiaContemporary Southeast AsiaContemporary Southeast AsiaContemporary Southeast Asia

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� International Dimensions of Southeast Asia�Philippines and Malaysia conflict over their border�Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam all make claims

to the Spratly and Paracel islands�China and Taiwan, too

�Formation of ASEAN has had a calming influence in the region�Cooperation�Concerns about outside influences (Chinese and

Western)

Geopolitical Tensions Geopolitical Tensions Geopolitical Tensions Geopolitical Tensions in in in in Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary Contemporary SEA SEA SEA SEA (cont.)(cont.)(cont.)(cont.)

�NON TRADITIONAL SECURITY

Main security issues in East AsiaMain security issues in East AsiaMain security issues in East AsiaMain security issues in East Asia


Price, Wyckoff

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Insurgency and Terrorism Insurgency and Terrorism Insurgency and Terrorism Insurgency and Terrorism

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� Especially Post 9/11

� Insurgency and terrorism in many parts of East Asia

� The irony of terrorism is that it can only really flourish in a country that is at

least partly democratic in character

� Terrorism did not occur in the USSR, and only began in Spain after Franco

� Terrorism has little chance against countries prepared to use unrestricted

force against it

� Terrorists have the advantage that they are prepared to kill indiscriminately

–something a democratic state would not contemplate

� Terrorism has become indiscriminate: – all of society is a target not just

politicians; aim is destruction not just propagation of an idea; best way to

spread fear

� Terrorist groups to become smaller, more fantastical – increased efficacy

and access to weapons, harder to penetrate

Insurgency and Terrorism Insurgency and Terrorism Insurgency and Terrorism Insurgency and Terrorism

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Smuggling and TraffickingSmuggling and TraffickingSmuggling and TraffickingSmuggling and Trafficking

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� East Asian countries’ borders are porous and the main security challenges

are transnational.

� These include trafficking in drugs, weapons and persons; illegal migration;

guarding against infectious diseases (avian flu); criminal activity and the

activities of anti-regime political activists.

� Thousands of asylum seekers and illegal migrants — mostly victims of

people smuggling from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Iraq — were passing

Indonesian waters en route to Australia. In early December 2011, a boat

carrying 250 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi

Arabia sank in waters off Prigi, East Java, when it was heading to Christmas

Island, Australia

� The problem of narcotics production and trafficking in Myanmar largely

persists due to the inability of the government to secure thefull

cooperation of ethnic armed groups which have been accused of allowing

production and trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic substances within

their respective territories.

Maritime SecurityMaritime SecurityMaritime SecurityMaritime Security

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� The threat of piracy, for example, continues to pose a serious challenge to

East Asia maritime security. During 2011, attacks on ships have increased in

Malaysian-Indonesian waters. Within January to September 2011, there

have been 41 incidents in the Malacca Straits.

� The problem of illegal fishing also constitutes a non-traditional security

problem as it becomes a major source of tension not only among

communities but also between states, such as between Indonesia and its

neighbouring countries such as Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and

China.

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Natural and ManNatural and ManNatural and ManNatural and Man----Made DisasterMade DisasterMade DisasterMade Disaster

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� Tsunami. In December 2004, it was struck by a Boxing Day Tsunami that

powerfully rippled from Aceh.

� Triple Disasters hit Japan on 11 March 2011: (1) a massive earthquake

with a 9.0 magnitude occurred 81 miles to the east of Sendai, Japan; (2) it

triggered extremely destructive tsunami waves that struck various parts of

northeastern Japan; (3) The meltdown of the Tokyo Electric Power

Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. Dead 16,000, more than

3,000 missing, hundreds of thousand still displaced.

� Tropical storm. Eg. Tropical Storm Sendong (international codename

Washi) in 2011 and the devastation it caused in Northern Mindanao.

� Floods in many area of East Asia. It is not uncommon in Thailand’s lowlying

central provinces just north of Bangkok, the country’s traditional “rice

bowl” that have also spawned manufacturing estates for multinational

companies in recent decades. Severe floods also beset the central plains

and Bangkok in 1983, 1995 and 2011, with 1942 as the most catastrophic.

Session 3 Geopolitical Framework and Main Security Issues in East Asia

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Transcript of Session 3 Geopolitical Framework and Main Security Issues in East Asia