The main theme of this book is that security is not just about defence from external attack, but embraces the protection of identity and values which cultures regard as important, and which they may regard as worth fighting for. It examines Asia Pacific security from the perspective of the values and identities of the major actors in the region - China, Japan, the Koreas and the USA - and highlights in particular the importance for China of the idea of a centralised state, and the impact of this on the question of the status of Taiwan; pacifism in Japan, which is at odds with US demands for...

The main theme of this book is that security is not just about defence from external attack, but embraces the protection of identity and values which cultures regard as important, and which they may regard as worth fighting for.