ABSTRACT
The Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD) between Australia, Japan and the United States, in theory, can substantially contribute to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region, including Northeast Asia. The benefits of the TSD for Northeast Asia are obvious and reflect those that could be applied to other sub-regions of the AsiaPacific: it is a dialogue among three like-minded democracies in the Asia-Pacific, it is concerned with the stability and prosperity of the region, and it intends to improve the Northeast Asian sub-region’s security environment through dialogue and cooperation. In practice, however, the potential sources of misperception and misconception are profound, and may only add to the complexity of the already difficult security problems in Northeast Asia. Rather than reiterating the merits of the TSD, this chapter will address several critical challenges and security issues in Northeast Asia that could undermine the process of the TSD despite its potential benefits.
