The Comparative Study of Three NORTHEAST ASIAN Nations’ POLICIES and Countermeasures against Maritime Security Threats

Abstract

The three northeast Asian nations, South Korea, China and Japan which are depending on the seaborne trade which is the majority of the trade, need active measures to respond to the international marine environmental changes and implement it. This thesis is to look into the maritime security plans which is made by the United States and adopted by each nation and the three nations’ policy of new maritime security threats causes like cyber terrorism and to assess the appropriateness. This is also in order to suggest some assignments for the successful adaptation of the maritime security plans. Maritime security has been a national agenda by terrorist attacks of pirates, maritime terrorism and shipping ports’ threats since the Cold War. South Korea, China and Japan, the three nations in northeast Asia, are paying closer attention to maritime traffic security because of a high level of dependence on maritime trade as most exportations and importations are being made through marine transportation. Especially nowadays there are new security threat factors using cyber terrorism and drones, so costal states need changes in security policy besides traditional maritime security. The purpose of this thesis is to criticize the three northeast nations’ policy about new threats and the maritime security plan which is initiative to be drawn up and applied by the United States and also to present countermeasure. Safety secure of sea lanes has become a national assignment which is directly connected to global survival to the three northeast Asian nations, South Korea, China and Japan which are dependent on trade through the sea. This thesis shows that each nation has put in a great deal of effort in order to keep the maritime order from the threats like pirates interfering ships’ free passages and disconcerting marine trade orders and there have been considerable achievements. However, there are limits of united countermeasures because three northeast Asian nations have different stances in cultural, social and political situations. It will be an important matter how to deal with security issues and unite continuous efforts against new threats liked cyber terrorism and drones with typical maritime security threats. I hope that stable environments of maritime security in eastern Asia come true through careful consideration about a few countermeasures shown on this thesis and reflection of the policy.