Security strategies in the Asia-Pacific : the United States' "second front" in Southeast Asia / Andrew T H Tan.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [243]-255) and index.

Terrorism and security in the Malay archipelago -- Terrorism -- Insurgencies -- Maritime security -- Great power rivalries -- The regional arms build-up.

After 9/11, the U.S.-led global war on terrorism has intruded into an already complex security environment in the Malay archipelago, home to the world{u2019}s largest population of Muslims, with the potential to catalyze or unleash further dynamics that could destabilize the region. This book argues that, given the existence of a discrete Malay archipelago security complex, with its security linkages and interactive dynamics, it is a fallacy for the United States to approach this region primarily through the prism of global counter-terrorism. Instead, any strategic policy towards the region needs to be founded upon a deep appreciation of the existing Malay archipelago security complex.