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Abstract
This thesis discusses the naval build-up and strategic conflicts in the post-Cold War Northeast Asia. After the end of the Cold War, there are some fundamental changes in the global security system, grand strategies of major countries and the political systems of many developing countries. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the military standoff between the East and West Blocs of Europe now has vaporized because of the democratization of East European countries and the expansion of NATO. However, similar changes in Northeast Asia have not taken place. In effect, the Cold-War order in this region based on nuclear standoff and containment, as well as the hostility between the U.S. and the Soviet Union has now been replaced with a delicate international relationship that is constantly changing and more unstable. The substantial strengthening of national power and changes of political situations in the countries of the region make these countries begin to notice various security issues that used only to be subjects under the U.S.-former Soviet standoff in the Cold War era. Meanwhile, the potential contradictions of national interests have resulted in the "strategic conflicts" in this region. Contrary to the Western trend, major Northeast Asian navies have been experiencing steady growth and rapid modernization. Since 1991, there has been a steady increase in the building of major naval ships within the region.
This essay argues that the "strategic conflicts" in this region cannot be solved in any time soon. Instead, they may worsen as potential conflicts evolve into power clashes in terms of the use of military force. The regional naval build up is a necessary result of these "strategic conflicts".
This study will make a comprehensive use of several approaches to support its main arguments. The approaches employed include: I). The theories of international relations, mainly realism and neorealism: 2). Theories regarding the sea power; and 3). naval science. These approaches, if integrated well, will help explore the relationship between "strategic conflicts" and the naval build-up in Northeast Asia.
This thesis will analyze the causes and effects of the strategic conflicts for respective country, as well as how these conflicts relate to the naval build-up of the countries. It carries out an empirical investigation of the current trends of the naval buildup in Northeast Asian countries. It demonstrates that the regional naval build up is driven by strategic conflicts. The naval expansion of the countries is interconnected; each responds to another’s build-up. The experiences of developing naval powers of Northeast Asian countries also modify the traditional sea power theories.
In conclusion, this study summarizes the possible explanations for underlying logic of the Northeast Asian strategic stalemate and the consequent naval arms race. It presents an assessment on whether or not the structural strategic conflicts in Northeast Asia will further evolve into military ones. I argue that naval build-up in this region will continue. The northeast Asian countries will not stop fighting for maritime rights. While looking at the current development of respective naval powers, it is not yet the time for them to use military measure to resolve the disputes. Nonetheless, at any rate, Northeast Asia is still the most vulnerable region for large-scale sea battles to take place.