RELEASE EMBARGO DATE: MAY 1, 2013 AT 9 AM

Panel: Sources of Instability in East Asia (Regency Room)
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 / 14:00-15:15
Talking Points for: Huang Kwei-Bo, National Chengchi University

In addition to the difference in national strategic interests, the instability in East Asia also results from the subjective interpretations of post-World War II history, problems with good governance and low-politics security, and the lack of institutionalization of conflict management mechanisms. Meanwhile, the people-to-people exchanges in East Asia do not seem able to support a stronger civic understanding of the importance of conflict reduction and regional cooperation, not to mention that the hovering nationalism and the conventional concept of territorial sovereignty can easily become the domestic causes of some assertive actions in the region.

A holistic approach to avoiding regional instability of East Asia is less likely, and it would be a bit unrealistic to rely on the United Nations or the United States to be the major stabilizing force for the region. Creating and maintaining issue specific regimes aimed at the sources of regional instability may be more feasible.