1st Edition

Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2023 Key developments and trends

    The Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment examines key regional security issues relevant to the policy-focused discussions of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence summit convened by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It is published and launched at the Dialogue and the issues analysed within its covers are central to discussions at the event.

    Since February 2022, the war in Ukraine has provided a bleak backdrop for discussions about international security. While the war has affected many aspects of security and defence in the Asia-Pacific, the region also has its own dynamics, and important security-related developments have occurred there since the invasion. Among these, China’s ever-growing power and increasingly assertive posture remain the leading long-term challenges for the region.

    This tenth edition of the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment contains an introduction and six chapters, authored by IISS experts, which investigate important dimensions of the regional security environment, supported by maps, graphs, charts and tables. Topics include:

    • the war in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific balance of power;
    • strained US- China relations and the growing threat to Taiwan;
    • Asia-Pacific naval and maritime capabilities;
    • China’s Belt and Road Initiative;
    • Japanese security and defence policy; and
    • the conflict in Myanmar and the international response.

    Authors include leading regional analysts and academics at the forefront of research and analysis: James Crabtree, Euan Graham, Nigel Inkster, Nick Childs, Meia Nouwens, Robert Ward, Yuka Koshino, Aaron Connelly and Shona Loong

    Introduction

    Chapter 1: War in Ukraine and the Asia-Pacific Balance of Power

    Chapter 2: Strained US–China Relations and the Growing Threat to Taiwan

    Chapter 3: Asia-Pacific Naval and Maritime Capabilities: the New Operational Dynamics

    Chapter 4: China’s Belt and Road Initiative a Decade on

    Chapter 5: Japan Steps Up: Security and Defence Policy Under Kishida

    Chapter 6: Conflict in Myanmar and the International Response

    Index

    Biography

    The International Institute for Strategic Studies is an independent centre for research, information and debate on the problems of conflict, however caused, that have, or potentially have, an important military content. The staff of the Institute is international in composition and IISS work is international in its perspective and reach. The Institute is independent and stresses rigorous fact-based research with a forward-looking policy orientation that can improve wider public understanding of international security problems and influence the development of sounder public policy, and more effective business decisions in the international arena.