Author

Min Gyo Koo is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Public Administration, Seoul National University.

Abstract

The oceans are a complex multi-layered space where traditional and non-traditional security challenges meet. They are also an important focus for policy making where South Korea’s new diplomatic paradigm, “complex diplomacy” will experience current and future challenges. Maritime issues in East Asia have seen a multi-layered structure of challenges including territorial disputes, disputes over natural resources, border line disputes, and the environmental issues. In the context of issues, institutional framework, and trends, this study focuses on the impact of the changing balance of power in the region upon the maritime strategy of East Asia, particularly in regards to China's rise and the relative decline of United States. With this new balance of power in East Asia, this paper also looks at the relevance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the symbol of maritime norms and as a normative arbitrator. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the principle of deciding maritime boundaries and baselines among the three East Asian countries of China, Japan, and South Korea as well as discusses the benefits and limits of “bilateral provisional measures” as a means for establishing regional maritime governance. Based upon this research, the author argues that it will be crucial to freeze the current territorial disputes before seeking multilateral arrangements on non-traditional security issues such as the joint development of natural resources, the protection of the regional maritime environment, and the safety of navigation. Discussions on the implication and limitations of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) should also follow. Finally, this study forecasts the future of the East Asian maritime order and asses its policy implications.

The full text in Korean is available here