The War on Terrorism and Its Impact on the Security Situation in the Asia-Pacific

摘要

Is Asia a breeding ground for the next generation of budding Osama Bin Ladens? If the newspaper pundits are to be believed at least the answer is almost certainly "Yes." From India and Pakistan in the West, China in the North, through Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and over to the island-nations of Indonesia and The Philippines, there are almost daily reports of new cells of individuals associated with Osama's shadowy Al-Qaeda organisation being discovered. More interestingly, perhaps, the appearance of this new threat appears to be forcing many governments―particularly in Southeast Asia―to take a fresh look at their defence policies and procurement needs. Beneath the surface, however, things are more complex. Asia is a kaleidoscopic place, blending a large number of religions and political systems, and consisting of countries at varying stages of development. And the degree to which terrorist organisations take root and the effectiveness of government responses to this threat will therefore vary.