Duke, Simon

Introduction
For the purpose of this discussion northeast Asia is assumed to incorporate the People’s Republic of China, the Republic China (Taiwan), the Democratic People’s Republic of (North Korea), the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russia Japan. Although part of northeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao, the Mongolian People’s Republic are not examined in Superficially, northeast Asia may appear to be a relatively region. It certainly has enjoyed spectacular economic evidenced by the presence of three of the ‘four tigers’—Kong, South Korea and Taiwan (the remaining one Singapore). Trade among China, Hong Kong and Taiwan (constituting one of the two major Asian trade ‘triangles’) grown enormously and, to all external appearances, the region enjoying an unprecedented period of stability. The image stability has been reinforced by APEC meetings that attention to Asia’s spectacular economic growth. The reduction in superpower military presence also may have encouraged impression of relative tranquility. Indeed, the growing economic interdependence may well lead to prolonged stability, yet it should be stressed that the economic links between countries are relatively recent compared to the historical between the countries. The rapid economic growth of the Asian economies also has been accompanied by a massive buildup and the emergence of China as a regional superpower. While the tendency to wish problems on a region must resisted, so too must the illusion of stability.
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