ABSTRACT

Security in Asian states is a complex issue, with respect to both how it is conceptualized and the manner in which it is pursued. While there is no single regional tradition of security, there are a number of key features that distinguish security in Asian states from that of states elsewhere, producing what is usefully regarded as the Asian security paradigm. Asian states are characterized by a tendency to approach the interrelated aspects of the nature of security and security threats, and the referent objects of security in quite broad terms. This has significant consequences for security policy in Asian states, which generally is structured around the discrete pursuit of state and intrastate security objectives.