ABSTRACT
A certain harmonization among the states in Southern Asia is a prerequisite for replacing competitive strategies with cooperative security paradigms incorporating non-offensive defence (NOD). The global trend of sub-national separatism, coupled with demands for regional autonomy, has also introduced new factors into the Chinese security calculus. China thus believes that sources of instability have increased, even though the Asian region is relatively more stable and experiences fewer tensions. The potential conflict lines and, in some cases, deep-rooted mistrust, as well as the mismatch of strategic postures and doctrines, in fact indicate a need for a re-orientation of politico— military doctrines towards an NOD framework. Many problems would no doubt be encountered in the process of restructuring military power and strategic doctrines. China, India, Pakistan and other countries of Southern Asia would thus have to initiate a dialogue on their strategic doctrines with a view to a harmonization of them in consonance with the concept of NOD.
