Maritime disputes in the western pacific

Abstract

Geographically, economically and strategically the Asia‐Pacific was a maritime area through the Cold War era, and remains one today. Not surprisingly, the threats that confront it are also often maritime in character. Seaborne trade is essential to the prosperity of the whole area but is threatened with such various forms of disorder as piracy and other jurisdictional threats to free navigation. Criminal activities at sea also threaten its peaceful utilisation. Disputes over potentially resource‐rich islands as the Spratlys, the Senkaku islands and the South Kuriles may also destabilise relationships in certain areas, especially when major strategic interests are at stake. The growing importance of the sea to the destinies of the area has contributed to the rapid growth in the naval power in the region, and this too may prove destabilising. But navies can be a source of crisis management and of co‐operative engagement too. Many of these issues were illustrated by two recent flare‐ups in long‐running island disputes which showed that the sea can divide as well as unite.

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