On 23–24 April, SIPRI and the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) co-hosted an expert workshop on ‘Examining Security Dilemma Dynamics behind Naval Build-up in the Indo-Pacific’. The workshop was held at the JIIA’s offices in Tokyo. The event aimed to delve into the strategic drivers and effects of naval build-up in the Indo-Pacific, including implications for regional security dynamics and potential escalation scenarios.
Participants included officials, researchers and academics from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. The participants were encouraged to share their perspectives on armament dynamics pertaining to the naval domain, including national security considerations and sources of tension in the region. This followed an initial presentation by SIPRI staff of ongoing work mapping the undersea capabilities of Indo-Pacific actors.
The aim of the workshop, part of a project funded by the Australian Department of Defence, was to leverage the expertise and thoughts of attendees to gain insights into threat perceptions across the region, as means to bridge gaps and identify policy solutions to mitigate negative consequences of security dilemma dynamics. The main outcome of the project will be a SIPRI Policy Paper synthesizing the research findings and analyses. This paper will serve as a comprehensive resource for policymakers, scholars and stakeholders interested in understanding the dynamics of naval build-up in the Indo-Pacific region and its implications for regional security.
About the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme
SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Programme seeks to contribute to the understanding of trends and developments pertaining to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It considers the related implications for an increasingly complex security landscape and seeks to identify approaches to address the risks and challenges WMD pose.
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About the SIPRI China and Asia Security Programme
The SIPRI China and Asia Security Programme provides timely, independent and policy-relevant analysis based on primary research, in-depth field work, and dialogue activities with Chinese/Asian and other counterparts. The research focuses on the interests, ambitions and activities of Chinese actors in several parts of the world, and forms three overarching themes: (a) international political economy and geoeconomics; (b) development aid, peacebuilding and the Global South; and (c) foreign, defence and strategic policy.
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