ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 lays out the main ideas, dilemmas and approaches of this study. This chapter outlines the scope of the coverage which goes beyond China and Japan, extending to other states which have proactive standing in the region. In particular, South Korean engagement in the Central Asia region has provided a case for comparison which frequently falls in between Chinese and Japanese approaches and presents a unique case requiring further analysis. In some other cases, references are made to Russian initiatives of the past and present as an example of “othering” for China and Japan in their engagement in the region.
