The Future of Regional Security Governance: Towards an Asian Concert of Powers[1]

PANG Zhongying[2]

Abstract: This paper initiates the concept of “Asian Concert of Powers” and expounds on its necessity and long-term significance in relation to the future of Asia and security governance in the Pacific region. The idea of a concert of powers, in its earliest form, was theorized and practiced in 19th century Europe, nonetheless, a general theory on the concert of major powers (not necessarily the biggest powers) is still applicable to 21st century Asia (and the Pacific region), where serious security challenges and dilemmas may potentially escalate to confrontations and even conflicts among major powers. More importantly, an Asia Concert is bound to prevent war, safeguard long-term peace and in still vigor to the regional economy. In other words, if an Asia Concert were to be established and managed smartly and effectively, by 2079, the Asia-Pacific region would’ve enjoyed a hundred years’ peace, similar to the one in Europe from 1815 to 1914. Since 1979, peace has prevailed for nearly 40 years in Asia. The regional and trans-regional forums, meetings, organizations and institutions developed over the past two decades or more represent the intentions and efforts to manage the power transition in the region and can be treated as the foundation for a future Asian Concert, despite their overlapping, mutually-incompatible and sometimes-competing nature. The US, with its alliance system, remains in the leading position in the regional security governance of Asia, but the country has since grown to recognize the complexity of regionalism in security issues. Many suggest the US should in the future resort to the theory of Asian Concert in its approach with China, which has made at remendous contribution towards a peaceful Asia on the basis of economic development. In response to US “Pivot to Asia” China proposes to establish a New Type of Major Power Relations with the US, and it is going to play a central and key role in Asia Concert.

Keywords: Asia Concert, Asian security governance, China-US relations, SCO and ASEAN