By Design or Accident: Reflections on Asian Security

✍ Scribed by Daljit Singh

• Publisher: ISEAS Publishing
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 188
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Asia is rising and will wield greater economic and strategic weight in world affairs. However Asia also faces numerous challenges like poverty, domestic instability, deficiencies in governance and the rule of law, inter-state disputes and rivalries, and military build-ups, to name just a few. The celebration of Asia's rise would be premature if it is not accompanied by lasting peace and cooperation between states and justice and prosperity at home. The achievement of this happy state of affairs will require continuation of wise and pragmatic leadership, especially among the major powers. This collection of essays reflects on some of the major political and security issues in the region in recent times, including the balance of power among the major powers, American engagement and policies in Asia, India's rise, the global war on terrorism, the Iraq war, domestic developments in some countries as well as ASEAN's efforts to build regional peace and security.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents
Foreword
Introduction
PART I: SOUTHEAST ASIA AND REGIONAL SECURITY AFTER THE COLD WAR
1. Sino-Vietnamese Reconciliation: Cause for Celebration?
2. Asia-Pacific Security Comes under ASEAN’s Scrutiny
3. East Asian Security Means Dialogue and US Will
4. Where is Myanmar Headed?
5. What Indonesian Stability Means to the ASEAN Region
6. Democratic Peace Theory and Asia: The Jury is Still Out
7. ASEAN’s Achievements are Endangered by Continuing Crisis
8. Surprising, Squabbling, Peaceful ASEAN
9. Fast SARS Action Shows ASEAN Not Just a Talk Shop
PART II: AGE OF TERRORISM, WAR IN IRAQ
10. The Changing Face of International Relations as America Combats Terrorism
11. There is Method to Howard’s Madness
12. A Not So Happy New Year?
13. Singapore’s Stand on Iraq: Clear and Forthright
14. Sept 11: Two Years On, Southeast Asia Breaks Terrorism’s Deadly Lock
15. US Bungling Makes Iraq a Problem for the World
16. Iraq is Not Like Vietnam — For Now
17. Losers and Winners in the Iraq War
18. Is Bangladesh Waking Up to Danger of Islamic Militancy?
19. Pakistan Faces a Gathering Storm
20. Southeast Asia Succeeds in Keeping Terrorism at Bay
PART III: THE BIG BOYS OF ASIAN GEOPOLITICS
21. China Needs to Act Like a Good Neighbour
22. On Balance, America is Benign
23. Resoluteness Alone Will Not Solve Bush’s Security Woes
24. India Has a Key Role in Asia’s Power Balance
25. China, Japan Must Meet and Talk More
26. India’s Ascent: Rocky Path Ahead
27. America’s Security Strategy and the “Long War” on Terror
28. A Weaker America Could Allow the Quiet Rise of China
29. ASEAN as a Geopolitical Player
30. China: A Powerhouse in Search of Grace
31. Security Treaty Signals Closer Canberra- Jakarta Ties
32. The Wagah Border: From Division to Bridge
33. Fix the Gaping Holes in India’s Security
34. Chiang Kai-shek’s Legacy Lives On in China
35. Asia-Pacific Security: The Danger of Being Complacent
PART IV: REMEMBERANCES OF CONFLICTS PAST
36. Turning Point in the Vietnam War
37. The Malayan Emergency: Of Plots, Plotters and Protagonists
Acknowledgements
Index
ABOUT THE AUTHOR