Sea Power and the Asia-Pacific: The Triumph of Neptune?

This volume examines the rise and fall of sea powers, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.The chapters analyse what seapower means, and has meant, and its role, both historic and contemporary, in the rise and fall of great powers. The book focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, where the expansion of sea-based economies, together with burgeoning naval power are claimed by many to be in the process of transforming the world's future economic and security relationships. The book asks: to what extent is the notion of 'Asia Rising' reflected by and dependent on its developing seapower ? How seriously should we take the Chinese challenge to the Western maritime ascendancy of the past several hundred years, and what might be the consequences of this?To seek insight into contemporary and future developments from previous experience, several chapters will explore historical antecedents, not least the manner in which Britain coped with the transition of its maritime ascendancy into other hands.This book will be of much interest to students of naval power, Asian politics, strategic studies, war and conflict studies, IR and security studies.