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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Pacific Rim Security – Managing the Global Commons

APCSS-CHDS-FSI CONFERENCE REPORT Stanford University, 12-14 January 2009

1. Purpose. The Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (CHDS), Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) Stanford University, and Pacific Council on International Policy (PCIP) co-hosted a conference on “Pacific Rim Security – Managing the Global Commons” 12-14 January 2009 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.  The conference provided a unique venue for senior government and non-governmental civilian and military leaders, security practitioners, and security studies experts from the Pacific–Rim region to gain insights on the confluence of transnational security concerns linking Asia and Americas, with focuses on the arenas of China and maritime domain, port security, energy security, environmental challenge, and U.S. maritime perspectives meant to enhance national security problem solving.  Particular targets included a mutual understanding of Pacific–Rim regional policies, the initiation of linkages with senior Pacific-Rim leaders and exploration of potential collaborative security strategies for managing the global commons.

2. Discussion. The event featured moderated panel discussions and guest speakers focused on the impact of Pacific–Rim maritime/energy/resource security linkages on the rest of the world.  The keynote address was given by Dr William Perry, former U.S. Secretary of Defense. Specifically,

  • Attendance profile: 45 delegates from 17 nations – Australia, Canada, Chile, China (Hong Kong), Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Philippines, ROK, Singapore, United States, and Vietnam.
  • Objectives:  1) Initiate linkages and dialogue among Senior Pacific Leaders, 2) Gain insights that would be useful related to Strategic Listening, 3) Gain mutual understanding of regional policies and perspectives, 4) Lead to future useful multi-regional/global conferences, 5) Showcase value of Regional Centers to academic, business, and policy communities, and 6) Establish linkages with similar government/NGO organizations.
  • Framework:  Focused presentations in plenary sessions on key issues: 1) China and Maritime Challenges, 2) U.S Pacific Maritime Perspectives, 3) Expansion of the Panama Canal, 4) Opening of the Northern Passage, 5) Challenges and Impacts on Pac-Rim Security, 6) Energy and Resources Across the Pacific, and 7) Coordinating for security – Port Security/Maritime Info-sharing.  Robust interactive question/answer periods and lunch/dinner guest speaker series enabled participants to share unique insights and perspectives and sustain dialogue throughout the Conference about the key issues addressed.

3.  Key Findings:

  • The Rise of China: is viewed differently by India, the U.S.A. and Latin American countries. At one end of the spectrum is India, extremely concerned about China’s growing conventional (esp. naval) and nuclear power which might undermine India and other countries’ interests.  Latin American countries welcome China’s growing economic interest and investments in their region–along with free trade agreements and foreign aid that appear to come with no political “strings” or conditions.  Latin American countries seem unconcerned about security implications of China’s rise.  The U.S. is noting that the relationship will be both cooperative and competitive, though regional stability cannot be taken for granted. Latin Americans’ have expressed some opposition to India’s membership of APEC for fear of transferring China-India rivalry to their region
  • Resource scarcity: has 3 dimensions: security; economy (volatility associated with cost and supply fluctuations), and environment. Climate change cannot be addressed without involvement from China and India. Competition over oil & gas mirrors strategic rivalries in the region. Growing energy competition could lead to conflict. It is a global problem that calls for cooperation. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a viable forum to deal with it by adding China and India to its membership.  China and the U.S. face many parallel situations on supply/demand side issues. All sources of sustainable/renewable energy must be tapped. Energy efficiency, education and an energy consumption tax should be assigned higher priority.
  • Change in Maritime Infrastructure: Global economic/trade downturn and the opening up of the Northern Sea Route could affect use of the Panama Canal. However, Panama believes that long term trends justify an expansion of the Canal. The melting of the Arctic ice offers the availability of transpolar sea routes and enormous energy resources. However, a negative aspect of this dynamic portends growing strategic competition between Russia and other countries in the region and increased environmental impact. China also wants access to the Arctic resources and passageways.
  • Threats in Latin America: While drugs and terrorism appear to be significant concerns in Latin America, poverty (which generates drug trafficking and other organized violence), crime and natural disasters present more immediate threats with long-term consequences. All these, in turn, lead to migration.  The very low prospect of inter-state military conflict in Latin America means that conventional war has nearly been banished from two continents–Europe and Latin America.
  • Piracy:  Discussions on piracy and port security highlighted the need for info-sharing and international cooperation. Piracy attacks have lately become more sophisticated, and commensurate disruption in the flow of trade drives up the cost of shipping, insurance and commodity prices. Countries are now using force to deter or apprehend pirates, supported by UN resolutions.  However, legal hurdles remain to effectively address the legal trial, repatriation and settlement of pirates.  Info-sharing is vitally important.
  • Port security: is a network of networks – constituted by transport mechanisms, system components, software and monitoring networks.  The future lies in “fusion centers” that amalgamate information between departments to collate a further refined data product, which reduces overlap and provides a basis for intelligence-based civilian policing. Standards and protocols, business and labor agreements need to be coordinated.  Technology plays a key role in establishing information sharing networks and tracking cargo, ships, routes, and people.
  • International and Interagency Coordination: Both American and Asian experience demonstrated that comprehensive solutions to security problems involve international, interagency, and private sector cooperation.  Bureaucracies require incentives to institute interagency paths to success.  Nations and international organizations must work together in multinational settings; interagency approaches are needed to promote connectivity between the private sector and public sector.

4. Qualitative Survey Results: Conference objectives were achieved.  Analysis of participants’ surveys revealed delegates gained a broader perspective and mutual understanding of cross-regional Pac-Rim security issues, challenges, collaboration opportunities, and gained “great benefit from networking and private discussions.”  Participants assessed event as an excellent opportunity to “share unique insights among a diverse delegation” of the “right people, talking the right subjects”.  Participants identified ways of leveraging information during the conference proceedings which will “prove useful in policy formulation and execution” and “to conduct national-level long-term strategy and planning.”  Ideas were exchanged on courses of action required to improve regional security cooperation, possible future partnerships and collaboration to address the key findings of the conference.

5.  Action Plans/Next Steps:

  • With the troubling lack of PACRIM and global cooperation on energy, the zero-sum nature of many national energy strategies makes global energy a big negative security issue with potential for conflict.  Therefore, future energy strategies should emphasize leveraging cooperative mechanisms, such as the East Asia Summit, Asia-Pacific Partnership on Climate Change, and the International Energy Agency (IEA).  Cooperation should include the nuclear dimension in terms of nuclear energy, waste management and countering proliferation.
  • Given accelerated climate changes, especially the dramatic melting of the ice cap at the North Pole, expect more research regarding changing shipping patterns and the assessment of their implications for port and sea lane security.
  • U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Regional Centers and similar international security studies institutions will place special emphasis in executive education on the broad security themes, topics and their linkages and topics addressed at this conference.
  • DoD Regional Centers will continue to work with regional organizations with the most potential to effect cooperation among PACRIM nations.
  • The Regional Centers will discuss and coordinate plans for a follow-on Conference (PAC-RIM #2) with similar venue, with the possible addition of a breakout group format to accommodate a guided dialogue with brief back of potential security solutions.