Enhancing East Asian Security Coordination

Book excerpt: The war in Ukraine has surpassed the predictions of countless analysts and armchair generals since it began in February 2022. The steadfastness and effectiveness of Ukrainian defense efforts have prompted political leaders and defense planners in East Asia to re-evaluate many assumptions that previously guided their regional policy, especially regarding tensions in the Taiwan Strait. While the threat of armed attack by the People's Republic of China (PRC) had long been seen as a vague possibility, many believed that in the postmodern era, territorial aggression between sovereign countries belonged to the past. Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine exposed the fallacy of this belief. Consequently, plans and preparations for a potential attack on Taiwan by a similarly assertive leader like China's Xi Jinping have now been prioritized and addressed with renewed urgency. Japan, second only to Taiwan in vulnerability, faces significant risks to the geopolitical stability of the region should such an event occur. Given the heightened stakes, analysts and planners in East Asia must take a sober look at the situation and develop innovative strategies to ensure an effective defense - recognized as the most potent deterrent against potential Taiwan contingencies. This book examines these issues from various angles, emphasizing the critical need for proactive measures. In this compelling analysis, the authors of the chapters delve into the unexpected and prolonged conflict in Ukraine, a war that has reverberated through global geopolitical thought. The resilience of Ukraine's defense forces has necessitated a critical reassessment in East Asia, particularly concerning longstanding tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The stakes are higher than ever, making an effective defense the key to deterring future geopolitical challenges in the region. This book scrutinizes the situation from diverse perspectives, emphasizing the imperative for East Asian analysts and planners to develop innovative solutions to safeguard against potential Taiwan contingencies.