Challenges to Regional Security in the Asia Pacific

Abstrak

Looking at the first quarter of 2014, this review highlights four issues with significant implications for the Asia Pacific region in general, and also more specifically Indonesia's security environment. First, the proliferation of the air-defense system and cruise missile have enabled the smaller countries to have better defense ability to the possible external military intervention; hence the future war zone will be more dangerous. Second,Japan Air Self-Defense Force has revised the new Rules of Engagement in treating foreign aircraft that trespass the air zone area, in relation to the dispute over Senkaku/ Diaoyu Island in East China Sea, which clearly sends out the signal that Japan will not back down in facing China and will react should the fighter flies across the disputed area. Third, Barack Obama's cancellation of his planned visit to Asia in late 2013 continues to have implications in the United States' commitments in Asia. Fourth, we will look at some latest developments in the Taiwan Straits, which, although not a "new'' issue in the region, still presents one of the security trouble spots in East Asia.