Trans-Boundary Micro Conflicts in Indo Pacific Region

Tensions arising from maritime and territorial disputes in the Asia-Pacific are of deep distress for the nations concerned. Rapid growth of population, urbanisation and mega cities, industries, mining, intensive irrigation and agriculture has combined with inefficient use of resources that becomes the reason of growing concerns about the extension of boundaries and reach beyond the area. Since the end of the Second World War, a maritime regime based on international law that promotes freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea has facilitated Asia’s impressive economic growth. Nevertheless, the efforts to lower tensions and cope with these conflicts peacefully, there are powers actively looking towards the Asia Pacific as their future gold coin and trying to alter the geo-politics of this region. Few out of those efforts include supporting an ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and crisis management procedures between China and Japan. This panel invites the debate and discussions over the changing dimensions of geo-politics in Asia Pacific with regard to the Trans- Boundary Micro conflicts emerging in the region.