New Security Challenges in Asia
New security challenges are increasingly important in U.S. security planning. Transnational threats that do not arise from national rivalries or involve geopolitical competition—climate change, food insecurity, pandemic disease, terrorism, and cybercrime—can destabilize a country just as severely as an invading army. All affect Asia and are particularly problematic for China due to its size, development, and governance. New Security Challenges in Asia focuses on the sources of these challenges, analyzes their international impact, and suggests actions to wrestle them into manageable condition.
Asian nations have found it difficult to respond effectively to these new security challenges. Resources and technical capacity are scarce, as are cooperation and coordination within governments, and between governments, the private sector, and civil society. New Security Challenges in Asia shows how these threats are less susceptible to traditional diplomacy or military resolution and recommends ways the United States still can help Asian nations address them constructively.
Michael Wills is vice president of research and operations at the National Bureau of Asian Research. Robert M. Hathaway is the director of the Asia Program at the Wilson Center.
