ABSTRACT
The Asian/Pacific hub of economic activities consists of a wide variety of interactions among the nations of the region. The Western Pacific region is undergoing a period of rapid and dynamic development, which can be seen in the economic growth rates of the individual countries and also in the expansion of trade among the various states. All countries in the Asian/Pacific area must face the necessity of harmonizing international economic relations and working out accommodations between the needs of the developed and the developing nations. The sea lanes of communication are the sinews of an economically and strategically interdependent world, for the sea is still the most practical and economical, and sometimes the only means of transporting large volumes of cargo. The transformation of the structure of bilateral relations toward organic exchange and mutual benefit has resulted in a reduction in the perceived threats to security.
