Confidence-building measures for Asia/Pacific / by Trevor Findlay.

Abstract

This paper develops and refines a study published previously as Peace Research Centre Working Paper No. 44 of June 1988, entitled 'North Pacific Confidence-Building: The Helsinki/Stockholm Model'. This version was presented to the Second Asia/Pacific Roundtable, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 2-4 July 1988. The paper examines the applicability of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) process as a model for confidence-building in the Asia-Pacific region. The two agreements that have arisen under this process, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the 1986 Stockholm Agreement, are briefly described. The paper then probes the differences - geographical, strategic and political - between the Pacific region and Europe, which affect the relevance of the Helsinki/Stockholm model to the Pacific. One specific proposal for beginning the process of constructing a security/arms control regime for the region - made by Barry Blechman and published as PRC Working Paper No. 29 - is reviewed. An alternative proposal, slightly different to the Blechman concept, is proffered. Show more