Geopolitics of Energy in East Asia: Regional and Global Implications of Security and Governance

The past three decades have seen a significant increase in global energy demand, particularly in East Asia, which has led to a process of reinforcement of the region's constitutional structures and institutions. This book examines the impact of energy needs on regional and global security and governance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The past three decades have seen a remarkable and unsustainable increase in global energy demand, particularly in East Asia due to its economic growth, heavy industrialization, fragile security architecture, and historical resistance to delegating power to supranational entities. Despite these challenges, the constitutional structures and institutions of East Asia's regional order have undergone a process of gradual reinforcement since the early 1990s. This book examines the impact of the region's energy needs on regional and global security and governance.

East Asia's energy needs are driven by its rapid economic growth, which has led to a significant increase in industrialization and urbanization. This has resulted in a growing demand for energy resources, particularly fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. However, the region's energy supply is limited, and it relies heavily on imports from other countries, particularly the Middle East and Russia. This dependence on foreign energy sources has made East Asia vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.

One of the key challenges facing East Asia's energy security is the region's reliance on coal. Coal is a highly polluting fuel that contributes to air pollution, climate change, and health problems. However, it is also a cheap and abundant resource, which has made it a popular choice for many countries in the region. As a result, coal-fired power plants have been built in many parts of East Asia, and they are responsible for a significant portion of the region's greenhouse gas emissions.

To address this challenge, East Asia has been implementing a range of policies and initiatives to promote renewable energy. These include the development of solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation. However, the transition to renewable energy has been slow, and it has faced a number of challenges, including high costs, limited infrastructure, and political opposition.

Another challenge facing East Asia's energy security is the region's security architecture. East Asia is a region that is characterized by a complex web of political, economic, and military relationships. This architecture has been shaped by a history of conflict and instability, and it has been difficult to establish a stable and peaceful regional order. In recent years, there have been a number of security threats in the region, including North Korea's nuclear program, China's territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and the rise of extremist groups in the region.

To address these security threats, East Asia has been implementing a range of policies and initiatives. These include the development of regional security institutions, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), as well as the promotion of military cooperation and intelligence sharing. However, these efforts have been limited by the political and economic interests of individual countries, and they have not been able to address the root causes of these security threats.

In addition to these challenges, East Asia's energy security is also affected by the region's traditional rejection of regional States delegating power to supranational entities. This rejection has been based on a number of factors, including a fear of losing sovereignty, a belief in the superiority of national interests, and a lack of trust in international institutions. However, the region's energy needs have made it increasingly difficult to maintain this rejection, and there have been a number of efforts to promote regional cooperation and integration.

One of the most significant efforts to promote regional cooperation and integration in East Asia has been the establishment of the East Asia Summit (EAS). The EAS is a regional forum that brings together the leaders of the 16 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 10 member states of the East Asia Summit (EAS). The EAS has been successful in promoting regional cooperation and integration in a number of areas, including trade, investment, and security.

However, the EAS has also faced a number of challenges. One of the most significant challenges is the lack of consensus among the member states on key issues. This has been particularly evident in the area of climate change, where some member states have been reluctant to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Another challenge facing the EAS is the impact of China's economic growth on the region. China is the largest economy in East Asia, and it has been growing at a rapid rate. This has led to a number of economic and political challenges, including the rise of protectionist policies and the displacement of workers in the region.

To address these challenges, the EAS has been implementing a range of policies and initiatives. These include the promotion of economic cooperation and integration, the promotion of regional security and stability, and the promotion of sustainable development.

In conclusion, the past three decades have seen a remarkable and unsustainable increase in global energy demand, particularly in East Asia due to its economic growth, heavy industrialization, fragile security architecture, and historical resistance to delegating power to supranational entities. Despite these challenges, the constitutional structures and institutions of East Asia's regional order have undergone a process of gradual reinforcement since the early 1990s. This book examines the impact of the region's energy needs on regional and global security and governance. East Asia's energy needs are driven by its rapid economic growth, which has led to a significant increase in industrialization and urbanization. However, the region's energy supply is limited, and it relies heavily on imports from other countries, particularly the Middle East and Russia. To address this challenge, East Asia has been implementing a range of policies and initiatives to promote renewable energy. However, the transition to renewable energy has been slow, and it has faced a number of challenges, including high costs, limited infrastructure, and political opposition. In addition to these challenges, East Asia's energy security is also affected by the region's traditional rejection of regional States delegating power to supranational entities. This rejection has been based on a number of factors, including a fear of losing sovereignty, a belief in the superiority of national interests, and a lack of trust in international institutions. However, the region's energy needs have made it increasingly difficult to maintain this rejection, and there have been a number of efforts to promote regional cooperation and integration. One of the most significant efforts to promote regional cooperation and integration in East Asia has been the establishment of the East Asia Summit (EAS). The EAS is a regional forum that brings together the leaders of the 16 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 10 member states of the East Asia Summit (EAS). The EAS has been successful in promoting regional cooperation and integration in a number of areas, including trade, investment, and security. However, the EAS has also faced a number of challenges, including the lack of consensus among the member states on key issues and the impact of China's economic growth on the region. To address these challenges, the EAS has been implementing a range of policies and initiatives. These include the promotion of economic cooperation and integration, the promotion of regional security and stability, and the promotion of sustainable development.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781409435198