APCSS Activities Report - July 2012 :: Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies

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APCSS Activities Report - July 2012

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Comprehensive Health Security Workshop

Participants of the Comprehensive Health Security Workshop

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, in collaboration with the Lao PDR Ministry of Health, conducted a security and health workshop focused on building an integrated, comprehensive strategy for regional security cooperation connected to disease outbreaks among the Lower Mekong Countries.

This multi-lateral four-day workshop was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, in June. It included participants from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR. Participants represented ministries such as public health, defense, agriculture, foreign trade and crisis management as well as regional and international organizations such as World Health Organization and USAID. Read full article at: http://www.apcss.org/comprehensive-health-security-in-the-lower-mekong-region/

Interagency Efforts to Counter Violent Extremism

APCSS, in collaboration with Joint United States Military Assistance Group Thailand (JUSMAGTHAI) and the Royal Thai Armed Forces, conducted a security workshop focused on the Thai interagency process as it relates to countering violent extremism in July. Read about it here:

http://www.apcss.org/thailand-outreach-workshop-focuses-on-security-sector-development/

Faculty News & Publications

In June, Dr. Mohan Malik visited Taiwan at the invitation of Admiral Chen Yeong-Kang, President, National Defense University (NDU) to participate in the “2012 Distinguished International Lecturer Series” at Bade campus on the outskirts of Taipei. The theme of this year’s academic workshop was “Asia-Pacific Strategic Environment & Security Challenges.” The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Andrew Nien-Dzu Yang, Deputy Defense Minister who also gave the Keynote Address on “Republic of China’s Role in Regional Maritime Security Cooperation.”

Dr. Jeffrey Hornung wrote an editorial on "Why China Should Do More in Afghanistan" for The Diplomat. Read it at: http://thediplomat.com/2012/08/01/why-china-should-do-more-in-afghanistan/

He also co-authored an editorial for the Japan Times entitled "Thinking through Japan-ROK security relations." It can be found at: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20120801a4.html

Dr. Mohan Malik was recently published in the World Affairs Journal. His article entitled "China and India Today: Diplomats Jostle, Militaries Prepare" looks at relations between China and India.

According to Malik, "Tensions between the two powers have come to influence everything from their military and security decisionmaking to their economic and diplomatic maneuvering, with implications for wary neighbors and faraway allies alike. The relationship is complicated by layers of rivalry, mistrust, and occasional cooperation, not to mention actual geographical disputes."

Read the full article online at: http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/china-and-india-today-diplomats-jostle-militaries-prepare

The latest issue of “Asian Politics & Policy” was edited by APCSS’ Dr. Alexander Vuving and includes articles written by several APCSS faculty members and an alumnus.

The special issue entitled “How China’s Rise is Changing Asia’s Landscape and Seascape” is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aspp.2012.4.issue-3/issuetoc

The following are abstracts from some of the articles:

“India Balances China” by Mohan Malik

This article argues that classical realism is alive and well in Asia. China, India, and other states are all seeking to establish a balance-of-power favorable to their own interests. Economic engagement and military balancing remain dual components of China’s and India’s policy toward each other. Asymmetric growth in the Chinese and Indian economies has had the effect of intensifying their power competition. The biggest cause of Sino-Indian balancing and counterbalancing is that both countries aspire to the same things at the same time on the same (contested) continental landmass and its adjoining waters. India’s evolving Asia policy reflects the desire to build an arc of strategic partnerships with China’s key neighbors in Southeast Asia and further east along the Asia-Pacific rim, and with the United States, to help neutralize the continuing Chinese military assistance and activity around India, and to develop counter-leverages of its own to keep China sober.

“Eurasian Response to China’s Rise: Russia and Kazakhstan in Search of Optimal China Policy” by Rouben Azizian, Elnara Bainazarova (ASC10-1)

This article examines the complex interplay between the economic motivation of states, their geographic location, geopolitical aspirations, historical experiences, and cultural biases in the context of Russia’s and Kazakhstan’s relations with China. The concept of Eurasianism, which has been prominent in the political and academic discourse in Russia and Central Asia and is an attempt to reconcile those often conflicting factors, is tested today by the rise of Asia and China more specifically. At the empirical level, the article analyzes China’s evolving role and influence in the Eurasian and Central Asian space and discusses Russia’s and Kazakhstan’s perceptions and responses to China’s emerging activism in the region. Russia’s and Kazakhstan’s future integration in broader Asia-Pacific regional processes and its forms will depend on how the two countries balance the economic and security dimensions of their China relations.

“The Future of China’s Rise: How China’s Economic Growth Will Shift the Sino-U.S. Balance of Power, 2010-2040″ by Alexander L. Vuving

The current debate over China’s rise and the future of international primacy is polarized between two prevalent views: one foresees China becoming the world’s largest economy and taking over the position of international primacy from the United States, whereas the other believes that the Chinese economy will falter as a result of structural imbalances and China will not become a superpower. Both predictions miss the mark. This study argues that notwithstanding the political will to rebalance the economy, China will continue to follow an investment-intensive growth path, and despite the structural imbalances, this path will still be able to lead to Chinese economic primacy. But sheer economic size is not a good indicator of hard power. Using an organic combination of wealth and productivity as an indicator of hard power, the article shows how close the power competition between China and the United States will likely be and that Beijing may not be able to surpass Washington as a superpower.

Note: The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Recent/Upcoming Workshops

The Environment and Security in the Pacific Island Region: Priority, Risks, Challenges, and Actions for a Secure Future

Aug. 6-10, 2012 in Honolulu

This workshop’s goal was to develop a better understanding of the security risks posed by processes of environmental change in the Pacific Islands Region. On the basis of this improved understanding, we identified specific actions that may be taken to address such risks. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants presented a set of recommendations that may assist the efforts of governments in the region, key regional organizations and other stakeholders, as they confront the diverse security challenges likely to emerge in the near future. More...

Cyberia: Identity, Cyberspace and National Security

Aug. 21-22, 2012 in Singapore

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) Alumni Continuing Engagement 2-day workshop entitled ‘Cyberia: Identity, Cyberspace and National Security’ will focus on the issue of identity and security in Southeast Asia. The region, one of the most ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse in the world, is also host to deeply entrenched ethnic hostility creating security concerns among the countries. The workshop will examine national, ethnic and cultural self-representations in the cyber domain, the increasing impact on the social, political, economic development and security in the region and identify best practices to manage identity-based issues in cyberspace.

Maritime Security Challenges (MSC) 2012

Oct. 1-3, 2012 in Victoria, BC, Canada

Maritime Security Challenges (MSC) 2012, the 5th iteration in the successful MSC conference series, will take place in Victoria, BC, Canada from Oct. 1 - 3, 2012. MSC 2012 is presented by Royal Roads University in cooperation with Maritime Forces Pacific of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. APCSS professors Dr. Justin Nankivell and Ms. Jessica Ear will be leading panel discussions. For more information go to: http://www.mscconference.com/

SGLI students visit APCSS

Participants from the Student Global Leadership Institute at Punahou School visited APCSS July 6 2012. While visiting the Center, students met with staff and faculty and learned about disease threats to global security, disaster preparedness and importance of social media in the security environment.

In this issue:

Comprehensive Health Security Workshop

Interagency Efforts to Counter Violent Extremism

Faculty News & Publications

Recent/Upcoming Workshops

SGLI students visit APCSS

Alumni Associations

Upcoming

The Environment and Security in the Pacific Island Region: Priority, Risks, Challenges, and Actions for a Secure Future

Aug. 6-10

Comprehensive Security Cooperation (CCM)

Aug. 16 - Sept. 18