西太平洋の安全保障レジームの構築

冷戦とその後

抄録

While the end of the Cold war has opened new vistas for easing tension in the West Pacific, it has made the post-World War II order fluid and brings with it the danger of destabilizing the West Pacific region. When considering the opportunities and risks brought on by the end of the East-West confrontation, it is now time to seek a structure for peace and security in the West Pacific.
The absence of an east-west, bipolar confrontation similar to the confrontation in Europe is the major geopolitical characteristic of the West Pacific. The region, however, has been caught up in the Sino-Russian border disputes and in the confrontation on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, the region is composed of countries with very different geographical characteristics, with the Russian Republic as a continental power, the United States and Japan as maritime powers, and the two Koreas as pninsular countries.
In addition, different stages of social and economic development between nations makes it difficult to build values similar to those in Europe. Alliances, friendships and animosities shift easily because of this. Since emerging colonial control, there are many nations without a long history of independence where nationalism is very strong.
Given the specific circumstance of the West Pacific, peace and stability in the international environment should be sought in the region. The following measures are necessary for such peace and stability to become a reality.
(1) The security system built around US alliances and treaties must be maintained.
(2) A wide range of cooperative relationships in economics and politics, among other areas, should be constructed between nations in the region as a foundation for regional security system.
(3) A political dialogue between nations in the region which includes the United States and the Russian Republic should be promoting for peace and security in the region.
(4) The encouragement of arms control is also crucial for stability in the international environment. In the West Pacific, the establishment of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) is an arms control policy possible in the near future.