Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs Vol. 19/4 (Mar 1998)

Contents

• Preliminary Pages

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• The West and China: Crusaders and Cynics, by Kay Moller, contributor see abstract
  The recent convergence between the European Union’s and the United States’ strategies vis-à-vis China has been superficial. Even if Washington’s policies have turned more “commercial”, the U.S. interest remains characterized by considerations of global and regional order. Europe’s recently “politicized” approach, on the other hand, hardly conceals a largely economic agenda. The Clinton administration’s “comprehensive engagement” of Beijing may be an adequate tactic to gain time for learning processes in China. Its dilemma consists in the low speed of such learning and the temptation for third parties (such as the European Union) to allow themselves to be played against the United States if the short-term calculus makes this appear to be a profitable option.
• The South China Sea in China's Strategic Thinking, by Shee Poon Kim, contributor see abstract
  This article examines China’s strategic thinking and policy towards the South China Sea in the post-Cold War era. One of its objectives is to show the linkage between China’s “strategic thinking” and its “strategic behaviour”. One cannot understand China’s strategic behaviour and policy without analysing the strategic thinking and thoughts of China’s decision-makers, especially Deng Xiao-ping’s eight strategic principles which have provided the foundation for Jiang Zemin’s policy towards the South China Sea since the post-Cold War era. The article also throws some light on the understanding of China’s changing perception towards the sea and its preparations to face the challenges from possible maritime conflicts in the twenty-first century.
• The Myanmar Air Force Since 1988: Expansion and Modernization, by Andrew Selth, contributor see abstract
  Before the creation of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) in 1988, the Burma Air Force was small, ill-equipped and crippled by its dependence on foreign logistics. It was hard-pressed to keep its aircraft flying, and could only perform a limited role in support of the army’s counter-insurgency operations. Yet, the air force has always been, and remains, an important factor in Myanmar’s security. The dramatic growth of the (renamed) Myanmar Air Force (MAF) under the SLORC suggests that the new generation of military leaders in Yangon shares this view. In addition to strengthening the MAF’s internal security role, the SLORC (and now its successor, the State Peace and Development Council) seems to envisage a significant external defence role for this element of the armed forces. If this ambitious modernization programme is successful, then in a few years time Myanmar will have a credible air defence capability for the first time in its history.
• Memories of War Crimes in Asia and Europe: A Review Article
• BOOK REVIEWS
• BOOK REVIEW: Interpreting Democracy. Capitalism, Democracy, and the Middle Class in Thailand, by John Girling, by John Funston, contributor

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• BOOK REVIEW: Sihanouk: Prince of Light, Prince of Darkness, by Milton Osborne, by Sorpong Peou, contributor

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• Index

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