Clashing Titans: Military Strategy and Insecurity Among Asian Great Powers

I have some happy news regarding my book and I thought I will share a short note on it.... My book on Asian militaries, Clashing Titans: Military Strategy and Insecurity Among Asian Great Powers was released by National Security Advisor (NSA), Shivshankar Menon on November 26, 2012. Following the release, the NSA gave an address on India-China relations.

Talking about India-China relations, he said that the recent outpour of commentary on the occasion of 50 years since the Sino-Indian war of 1962 radiated considerable heat but little light as these commentaries were not always supported by facts. India and China have shown the ability to manage their bilateral relationship. On issues where both countries differ, there is a need to improve the quality of the strategic communication to manage and resolve issues and avoid misperceptions, noted the NSA.

As for my book, the Clashing Titans provides an insight into the military strategies of the four great powers in Asia - the US, China, Russia and Japan - that will shape the emerging Asian strategic framework. Asia was at the centre of global politics and its rise as a powerhouse had its impact around the world. The shift of power to Asia had created a lot of uncertainties. The rise of China and other powers and the relative decline of the US were the major developments affecting Asia’s security architecture, she said. While the decline of the US was a decades’ long phenomenon, the rise of China has been more dramatic, particularly in the last two decades.

While there are several different forces that go into shaping the Asian framework, she highlighted the importance of military strategies it was an important indicator of a country’s intentions and objectives, which could impact the insecurities in a particular region. Given the baggage of history, with each of these major powers having a history of wars with each other, unresolved border and territorial disputes and the rising nationalism in Asian countries, particularly in China, Japan and India , Asia is likely to witness a period of intense of competition and rivalry in the coming decades.

Another disturbing trend was the increased securitisation of issues (geopolitical and territorial issues) and the tendency to find technological solutions to geopolitical problems. The emphatic focus on hard power in Asia can strengthen the security-insecurity dilemma in Asia. Thus, the great powers in Asia competing for power and influence will often step on each others’ toes potentially leading to clashes between these titans.

Hope you will pick up a copy of the book and enjoy reading it!! I also look forward to your comments.



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