The oceans are becoming ever more important to East Asia. The oceans around East Asia, which is home to a number of leading exporting/importing countries, are extremely important to the countries in the region, both in terms of economic and national security. At present, the various countries in the region are embroiled in conflicts with each other over territorial claims concerning many islands. A similar situation is occurring in the relations between the two Koreas. Furthermore, interest in the oceans - as expressed by China and traditional maritime nations such as the U.S. and Japan - appears to be high stakes. China’s recent buildup of its naval strength, including its plan to deploy an aircraft carrier in combat-related duties, is emerging as a new factor in the region’s marine power mechanism.
- What is a leading factor for China to build up?
- What significance does China’s buildup of its naval strength have for the safety of sea lanes and territorial disputes in the region?
- What would be an efficient way of maintaining maritime security in East Asia?

- Moderator
FUNABASHI Yoichi (Former Editor-in-chief, The Asahi Shimbun)

- Panelists
W. Lee HOWELL (Managing Director, Center for Global Events, World Economic Forum)
PAIK Jin-Hyun (Dean, Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University/Judge, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea)
Satu LIMAYE (Director, East-West Center in Washington)
YAN Xuetong (Director, Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University)
G. John IKENBERRY (Albert G. Milbank Professor, Princeton University)