Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
The Asia-Pacific is being pushed together and pulled apart on an ongoing basis by military and economic trends arising both locally and globally. This course will provide an overview on strategic analysis in the Asian-Pacific region, with specific focus on the field of security. The Asia-Pacific is a region of extraordinary importance across virtually all aspects of global politics and economics. It is also a region filled with apparent contradictions and unresolved questions. It is thus vitally important for students and practitioners to understand the concepts of strategic analysis in order to develop a reasonable grasp of what is going on there.
The key questions are whether the Asia Pacific region is headed toward greater cooperation or conflict and how states and other actors may be able to affect the direction. Fundamentally, these are questions of how to manage the rise of China. This course will take a multi-faceted approach to analyze different strategies planned and conducted by the Asia-Pacific countries. Among the topics it addresses are the current balance of power, sources of regional security dynamism, states’ strategies, stability of alliance relationships, venues for discussion and cooperation, and key territorial disputes.
The unique characteristic of this course is that several Taiwanese retired high-ranking (three star)
generals and admirals are invited as the guest lecturers for the course. They will share their perspectives on how to analyze national and defense strategies. In addition, scholars from Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan and Korea are also invited to introduce their country views; this will be conducted virtually through Google Meet. In addition, upon availability, field trips to relevant agencies such as think tank might be organized.
能力項目說明
By the end of this semester, students should be able to understand and analyze the major strategies adopted by the Asia Pacific states.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
|---|---|---|
|
週次 Week |
課程主題 Topic |
課程內容與指定閱讀 Content and Reading Assignment |
教學活動與作業 Teaching Activities and Homework |
學習投入時間 Student workload expectation |
|
|
課堂講授 In-class Hours |
課程前後 Outside-of-class Hours |
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|
1 |
Course Introduction |
Introduction of the course syllabus |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1 hour |
|
2 |
Introduction of the Asia-Pacific Region |
Introduction of the Asia Pacific region (geography, current state of affairs, and its relevance in constructing a new world order) |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1 hour |
|
3 |
Introduction of Strategic Analysis |
This session introduces and explains what is strategy and how to analyze strategies |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
4 |
Strategic Environment of the Asia-Pacific |
The session discusses three questions: What are the main threats to regional security? How to prevent, manage, and resolve regional conflicts? What is a rules-based international order? |
In-Class Lecture Group Discussions and Presentation |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
5 |
South China Sea and Maritime Security |
The focus is on territorial disputes in the SCS |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
6 |
The Rise of China and Its Grand Strategies |
This session will focus on the rise of China especially in the military field and how its Belt Road Initiative can affect the AP region. |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
7 |
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China |
This session examines and discusses the modernization of the PLA |
In-Class Lecture Group Discussions and Presentation |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
8 |
The Security and Strategy of Taiwan |
Main discussion: what are the key issues of Taiwan’s security and what strategies Taiwan adopts to maintain peace and stability |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
9 |
MID-TERM |
|
NO CLASS |
|
|
|
10 |
The Air Defense of Taiwan |
This session investigates how Taiwan ensures its air defense and what strategies it adopts. |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
11 |
Taiwan’s Security and Veteran Policy |
The armed forces and veteran are intertwined. This session introduces the veteran policy of Taiwan |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1 hour |
|
12 |
Challenge of weapon acquisition in Taiwan |
Taiwan has unique weapon acquisition policy and strategy. This session explains how Taiwan acquires weapon systems for defense |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
13 |
Analyzing the United States Strategies in the Asia Pacific Area |
The focus is on the role of the United States in the Asia Pacific area |
In-Class Lecture |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
14 |
Analyzing Japan’s National Security Strategies |
This session will invite a Japanese speaker to elaborate Japan’s national security strategies |
On-Line through Google Meet |
3 |
1 hour |
|
15 |
Security and Strategies of the Korean Peninsula |
This session will invite a Korean speaker to analyze the Korean Peninsula security and strategies |
On-Line through Google Meet |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
16 |
Student Presentation and Discussion I |
|
In-Class Presentation and Discussions |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
17 |
Student Presentation and Discussion II |
|
In-Class Presentation and Discussions |
3 |
1.5 hour |
|
18 |
Conclusions |
Wrapping up |
Essay due |
3 |
|
1. Presentations (40%)
Each student will need to make one presentation (20-30 minutes) and leading the class discussions. Subjects of presentation need to be relevant to the topics and issues of strategic analysis in the Asia Pacific. You can use your creativity and adopt any form (such as Powpoint, short film etc.) to carry out your presentations.
2. Essay (30%)
At the end of semester, each student is required to write an essay with 1500-2000 words in length about current issues of strategic analysis in the Asia Pacific region. Details of essay will be announced during the lecture.
3. Class Participation (30%)
Class participation is an assessment of each student‘s willingness and ability to comment on the contents of lecture topics. You need to prepare to discuss the readings assigned for each week. Participation of group discussions is equally important. For attendance, students are expected to attend at least 75 % of the class meetings.
Sumit Ganguly, Andrew Scobell, Joseph Chinyong Liow (Eds.). The Routledge Handbook of Asian Security Studies, 2nd edition. Routledge (2017).
Additional readings
Additional supplementary readings will be prepared for students’ long-term use. Students are not obligated to read all supplementary readings. However, students may find them helpful.