Regional Peace and Security

This chapter discusses the development of regional peace and security in Asia and the Pacific. Since the end of the Cold War and the resurgence of Asian economies, there has been significant movement in the establishment of peace and security institutions. Notable among them are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). This movement was partly due to regional hegemons seeking a greater role in their neighbourhood and partly due to smaller states seeking to manage the regional hegemons. Simultaneously, China and India also began playing a crucial role in shaping the evolving norms relating to climate change, cyber security, energy security, trade, and outer space. The chapter also considers the impact of the United Nations Charter, the prohibition on the use of force, and collective security in the region.