ABSTRACT
The Tiananmen Incident and the collapse of the Soviet Union symbolize the beginning of an historical turning point whose long-term significance we are still unable to guess. In order to maintain global leadership, the United States has had to restructure its relationships with countries in Asia-Pacific. China's rise as an economic great power is still accompanied by question marks concerning internal stability, and uncertainties concerning the implications for comprehensive security in East Asia. Japan wishes to reaffirm its security insurance by strengthening its security treaty with the United States, yet is aware of the fact that within less than two decades Sino-Japanese trade may well be the dominating trade relation in global trade, by far surpassing the role of US trade. Taiwan wishes to increase its ability to manage its affairs independently, yet is struggling to reduce its economic dependence on mainland China. Both Taiwan and Japan wish to prevent serious tensions between the United States and China, but at the same time agree to cooperate in long-term missile defense projects directed not only against North Korea, but against perceived threats from China as well. South Korea and China exchange defense missions. Southeast Asia is perhaps less united internally than cooperation in ASEAN may suggest, but appears united in its policy of engagement with China without appeasement.
