英文摘要 |
A standoff between China Marine Surveillance vessels and a Philippine Navy frigate occurred near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in April 2012. The incident did not escalate to military conflict, but it increased tensions between the two countries. There have been territorial disputes in the South China Sea for a long time. The sea has a strategic importance not only because of rich deposits of oil and natural gas, but also because it is an important sea lane for East Asian countries. Statistics show that China has become the world's second largest military spender. The rise of China's military power brought about a big change in geopolitical structure in East Asia. A string of incidents which occurred in East Asia in 2010 indicates that the security of the region is unstable. In addition, Obama's 'pivot to Asia' reveals that the USA will shift the focus of its military power to the Asia-Pacific region. This article will look at how Japan is responding to the dramatic changes occurring in the East Asian security environment. |