Program Description: The events of the last few years have profoundly altered the security environment in Asia. The war on terrorism has brought US ground forces to Central Asia for the first time in history. America's relationships with traditional Asian allies like Pakistan and South Korea have become deeper and, at the same time, more difficult. The United States has also forged entirely new alliances with countries that have traditionally been neutral (India) or even hostile (Uzbekistan). New problems, like the destruction of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, have appeared, while old problems, like the North Korean military buildup, have flared to life once again. China's steady economic and diplomatic penetration of Southeast Asia has continued, raising questions about whether China will use its growing influence constructively, by investing it in cooperative security structures, or hegemonically, by dominating its neighbors and challenging the United States for control of the Pacific Rim.
Through the Asia-Pacific Initiatives program, the Stanley Foundation will seek to address these issues by developing projects that emphasize comprehensive and cooperative approaches to Asia security. The program engages US and regional government officials, policy analysts, media professionals, academicians, and representatives from international government organizations.
© 2003 by The Stanley Foundation