Source:
https://scmp.com/article/632235/rudds-regional-vision-raises-question-mark

Rudd's regional vision raises question mark

There are a host of security concerns causing instability and uncertainty across the Asia-Pacific region. North Korea, Taiwan and Kashmir are the most prominent, but China's rise, the Spratly Islands, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the rush for resources, piracy and weapons smuggling are among others that are also worrisome.

Unlike among western nations, there are no regional organisations dedicated to permanently tackling security issues. This is despite some having a regional impact or the potential to involve more than neighbouring countries. The lack of such a body was the reason China, the US, Japan, South Korea and Russia joined forces to try to get North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons programme.