Syllabus
Syllabus for Summer Semester in 2024: 1. Introduction of lecture, Geopolitical and Geoeconomic feature of East Asia (February 21) 2. Modern and contemporary history of regional security (February 28) 3. Territorial disputes in East Asia (March 6) 4. Arms race in the region and economic interdependence (March 13) 5. U.S. “deterrence by denial” strategy and U.S. forces in East Asia (March 20) 6. Xi’s third term and hybrid challenges posed by PRC (March 27) 7. Japan’s pragmatic self-defense approach and Japan-U.S. alliance (April 3) 8. Taiwan contingency and Taiwan’s defense policy (April 10) 9. PRC’s assertiveness in Southeast Asia and reactions by ASEAN members (April 17) 10. DPRK’s WMD development and North-South relations (April 24) 11. Russia’s pivot to Asia, Russo-DPRK cooperation and Russo-China strategic partnership (May 1) 12. Impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine to East Asia and future perspective of security in the region (May 8)
Contact: hosoda@fsv.cuni.cztakashi_hosoda2003@yahoo.co.jp
Annotation
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought various paradigm shifts and has had a significant impact on the security environment not only in Europe but also in Asia (or Indo-Pacific). There are increasing concerns that some Asian states might imitate Russia’s “changing status quo by force” approach to achieve their own imperialistic desire. Moscow also attempts to re-vitalize bilateral relations with North Korea due to necessity to solve material shortage and we have faced historical moment for possible forming of Beijing-Moscow-Pyongyang Anti- “West (not only U.S. but also democratic countries including Japan)” Axis. In addition, it is also a cause for increasing concern that economic interdependence relations with Russia failed to prevent the Putin's military challenge.
In response, the United States has strengthened security cooperation with allies and “like-minded countries,” and multilayered multilateral defense cooperation networks such as QUAD and AUKUS, are being formed in the Indo-Pacific region. Although NATO's deterrence functions well, however, we are facing a dilemma that the military commitment of the United States is vital not only for European countries but also for Asians. At the same time, however, China's economic presence has increased in the region, and it makes regional security situation more complicated because twisted "depending on the United States for security and on China for economy" relations has been simultaneously developing.
While security cooperation by liberal like-minded states and strategic partnerships among authoritarian states are being strengthened respectively, there are also opportunistic states that do not participate in either. Indeed, Asian countries are reacting and coping differently to China's economic rise and military might. This reflects differences in their geopolitical conditions, historical backgrounds, and perceptions of national interests. That is why, we need to understand the diversity.
Therefore, in this lecture, while paying attention to these complex factors, I will explain the territorial issues and security concerns that could be the ignition point for destabilization of regional security in East Asia. To do so, I also offer occasions to view the trends and status of security strategies, alliance policies, and military might development of Japan, the United States, China, Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea, ASEAN countries, and Russia as the fundamental knowledge to understand regional security architecture. Theoretical explanations will also be allocated as needed. The ultimate goal of this class is to grasp and understand security situation in the Indo-Pacific theater from a bird's eye view, to consider how European countries are involved and should engage in the region in an era of the U.S.-China persistent great power competition.