Economic growth, marine resources and naval arms in east Asia—A deadly triangle?

This article suggests that a serious security situation is emerging in East Asia with high economic growth both increasing the demand for marine resources and facilitating higher expenditure on naval arms. While the region is rich in marine resources, the development of these resources is troubled by major jurisdictional problems, especially the lack of agreed maritime boundaries. These problems are destabilising for regional security and may become more so, unless new approaches to marine resource management are found which are not based on sovereignty, unilateral rights and agreed boundaries.