Region Azji i Pacyfiku – narastające dylematy bezpieczeństwa
Asia-Pacific Region: Growth of regional security dilemmas

Summary/Abstract: A security dilemma is a situation in which one state increases its means of defence in order to improve its security, which, however, is interpreted by another state as an act of aggression that prompts it to work on its own security measures, thus leading to a potential armament spiral. The Asia-Pacific Region is characterized by growing security dilemmas among almost all regional actors, but especially North Korea, Japan, China, and the United States. North Korea’s security dilemma is the result of an obsessive hostility towards the rest of the world, which causes Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States to take counterbalance measures, which are interpreted by North Korea as an act of aggression. For Japan, the security dilemma is the result of its endeavour to increase the role of the Self-Defence Forces and to change Article 9 of the Constitution. China, aspiring for a global superpower status, is also facing a security dilemma due to the rising anti-Chinese sentiment in the region. When the United States, the unquestionable regional hegemon, becomes a “strategic pivot” in the region, and supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership, China can interpret it as an act of aggression. All the empirical evidence shows the weakness of the regional security system institutions.

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