The security environment in the Asia-Pacific region has become highly complex
since the end of the Cold War. The region is confronted with many daunting
challenges like the denuclearization of North Korea; international terrorism;
tensions in the Taiwan Strait; piracy and other trans-national crimes at sea;
the safety and security of the maritime domain of the region; combating maritime
pollution and the challenges posed by natural disasters. Among these challenges,
the Taiwan issue remains a major stumbling block. The future of the Asia-Pacific
region hinges on Taiwan given its political, economic and geostrategic
significance.
Taiwan now faces many of the same economic issues as other developed economies.
The