This project provides an unofficial venue for dialogue between experts from inside and outside Asia in regard to the state of traditional and nontraditional security matters in the Asian region, thus reinforcing an intellectual foundation that can foster systems enabling new security alliances within Asia.
In fiscal 2007 a nine-member study group has been researching the role of interregional mechanisms in Asia and the state of Asian security and related policies. On October 25 a workshop was held to decide the topics and participants for a roundtable discussion which, grounded on the workshop discussions, was held on Sentosa Island in Singapore January 17-18.
About 80 experts from such countries as Japan, the United States, Britain, China, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and the Philippines discussed the direction that should be taken with future issues toward community building in Asia. Discussions covered the role and function of regional mechanisms, the relationship among the jumble of regional mechanisms, the balance of power between China, India, and the United States, and also ASEAN community building and the ASEAN Charter. The outcomes of the roundtable discussions have been compiled into a report and distributed to relevant officials.