Security Challenges Of the 21st Century; Introduction : Security Concept A Regional / National Perspective Maj.General Moe Hein Commandant, National Defence College Yangon, Ntyanmar. 1. Developments in the recent past have not only re-defined the notion of security challenges of 21 st century, but have also unveiled unacknowledged areas of security aspects. There were times when the security of the country?.nd its people was- the sole responsibility of the government and the military. The concept of sscuiity itself is undergc.ui a chenge. No Longer do threats originate ccly from ov^siafc the country's border but also froro within the rounl:y.l:isv.':-c's;.o.o cr ijov;;:. Umct: tnc- Yugo^U;;. ;.r. has proved ''.hat r,ai'gc >"'^ no':!:/ ' «.-.ny arus intrusion of oi.b.^r nations. Th.:;rc.fove, rta":e or I'-Iaiiontl ssciirity is deeply and wids'y concomsd and also infiuentialiy conrsicted with politics, military affairs, economics issue, social affairs anr! diplomatic issue. A'thour^ fn- tsrrtal and international security' issues have difference. These faciori sre reciprocally effects. connected and have vice verss: 2. Most of the causes that interrupts the state security are based en the stimulations of external politics, military affairs, economics issue and social affairs. Moreover interstate general failures may be the causes that are welcoming the external pressure into the country. In the international arena, national security can only be built when the state has political, military and economical power. On the other hand : security is based on long lasting peacefulness, which can manage security to all. But, a nation trying to fulfill its security needs, can
2 violate the other nations security. Hence, the arms races of the nations trigger the world to become more insecure. 3. Therefore, National Security can be defined as "a policy, that a nation has liid down in order to avoid, prevent and manipulate the dangers, both from iitternal and external threats on its political, military, economical and other affairs. A policy abided by all citizens. 4. Humab security, dignity, rights, personal opportunities, are being given priorities, in security concepts of some western countries. A concept such as "Freedom from fear" is also prevailing. Sufficient of human needs on food, clothing and settlement (shelter), community securities and state security are being given priorities in security concepts suca as " F-eedom from wants " of Asian countries. ** 5. In the wake of 11 September attack, by the terrorist, on the WTC, the former concepts on national security have changed as security of \ an individual can not be achieved without the national security arid only can the states legally possessed the weapons. Furthermore!, concepts on state security priority are exposed such as right to takeiinto custody of suspects. 6. The fallowing challenges can be experienced in the national security classify into sectors- (a) Political sectors; Opposing and slandering on states government, corruptions, external and internal challenges ion political principles practiced by ones nation, democracy, ihuraan rights, humanitarian issues,, secession by nationalities
3 and religious diversity, law enforcement and external interventions. (b) Military sectors; Internal arms conflicts, military buildup within the region, terrorism, interventionism. (c) Economic sectors; Gap between the rich and poor, market instability, inflations, shortage of arable lands, food scarcity, lack of energy, decreasing of resources, inequity in trade, increasing of xinemployment rats, scarcity of drinking water. (d) Social ssctors; Disappearance in national morality and cultural heritage, intervening of non-governnienca.1 organization ir; poi.r'tica! afbiirs. increasing of infectious C.'.-.SOi.res. l;i.il':';' c.c. (V: 3rj:e:.tv:'& an/." IVumcksg;;' sectors; Increase uses of technology to develop weapon of mass destruction (WMD). technology g?p and using technology as military weapons. (f) Eavtromrsfcruii! seclx-rs: Deforestation, scarcity of ara' '.a U':.rid.s, s'horragf; of drinking ^.vai'sr, global warming, air sjid water pollut'on, changes in global climate. soil erosion, lack of natural resources, (g) Diplomatic and International Relation Sectors; Neocolonialism, intervening of internal affairs, to defame ones nation in a world community by means of diplomatic humiliation and economic sanction.
4 7. Regional Perspectives ( Asia-pacific and Southeast Asia.) (a) Traditional challenges (i) (jii) Korean Peninsula Issues. Taiwan Issue. (iii) Spratiy Islands Dispute. (iiv) Threats emerging from military build-tip in the region. (b) Non Traditional challenges (i) (:ii) Regional terrorism is connected to global terroristrs and is part of global terrorism network. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, illegal sims trade. (iii) Transnatioae! Cricies: Drug and human trafficking. (iv) (y) (vi) Maritime security, Resource - sharing issues, Transborder health issues, (jvii) Environmental issues. 8. National Perspective (a) (b) (c) (d) Disintegration of National Unity and Insurgency Problems Social Unrest; Religion, Ethnic, Poverty. Food Security. Cyber terrorism.
5 9. Analyzing security challenges: The challenges that Asia Pacific Region and South East Asia Region might encounter are as follow- (a) Regional terrorism; Terrorist attacks have been taken place and plots have been made in some places of Philippine, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Jemaah Islamiyah is major terrorist organization in South East Asia. It has established net work movements in some countries of this region. (b) Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD); Obviously, there is no potential danger of WMD in this area at press;.!.. However, to prevent such danger^ dialogues, diccunsic-nd. de^rrtnc^ and cooneraticr measures mould be (.-\ (d) 3kigsJ ar;-r crade: Weapons; suclx as ATM, RP'J, MANF -'' 'PADS e-;c. that are bit over from wars and co'.ifhots in the region are now in the havi.'j cf insurgents and jsncri.yt groups througb iik-gal r^arket. Therefore countries in th region mixst cooperate to eradicate the spreading cf illegal weapon' rnarkef. Transnatibna! Crimes: Drug trafncking and human trafficking to ba eradicated and to prevent these crime from connecting with underground gangs and terrorist networks, cooperation, coordination and protections must be carried out in proper order. (e) Maritime Security; It includes piracy, sea territorial disputes, illegal extraction of marine resources and extortion by insurgents. In order to ensure safe use of sea lane in the
6 Region, it is necessary to implement relevant measures through multilateral cooperation among the countries in the region, combine forces and cooperation measures are needed for the maritime security. (f) Environmental Security; It comprises deforestation, desertification, land degradation, the loss of arable land, air and water pollution and haze incidents from land- clearance fire (g) Resource- Sharing Issues; Sharing of water resources in trans-boundary rivers, production and sales of natural resources in the weaken law enforcement region. (h) Transborder Health Issues; Spreading of SARS, HIV, TB, Bird flu diseases in the region deterred economi:; (development and social stability in the region. These issues cannot be solve by single country. Therefore, coordination and cooperation in the region is essential. (i) Food Security; A situation that exists when all people, at all.time have physical, social and economic access to Sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary need and food preference for an active and healthy life. (j) Disintegration of national unity; For the countries which have many national races and ethnic groups, secessionist movement is one of the great challenging to the national unity. For national unity, free from external intervention and respect sovereignty of other countries is essential.
7 (k) Social unrest; Religious, Ethnic unrest, gap between the rich and poor, disparity in economic advantages ars also challenges to the state security. (1) Cyber terrorism; In modern wars information warfare became the main operational pattern. With the rapid development in communication and information technology, terrorists.use internet to attack government infrastructures. Thus, cyber security is becoming more important therefore, introduction of up to date international laws and treaties for cyber security \.: ersenriaj. tv^ig 0B'ri.iicr;:^; Issues challenging the regfona] secunties ~re coaotrned not only by bilai'eral or multilateral nations but a/so concerned and connected to imereai issues arjd -overeigrny, Concerning vvitb. internal issues and sovereignty, f: >> -^ bs-irjer for peacekeeping forces to perform in regional security. Hence, in each countries differs in military doctrines, transparency and financial difficulties can also be the difficulties for peacekeeping forces to perform regional security. Multi national organization are to solve the security threatening and it is an essential to be active and effective. Cooperation, coordination and effectively implementing in officials of the security organization, strict regulations must be maintained.
8 (ii) Multi national security organization; ARF is the only organization for the Asia-Pacific region at present, ARF functional process are confidence measure building, preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution. It is essential to submit and discuss the security problems that regional nation has faced and to be solved under the support of this regional security organization. (b) National perspective (i) (ii) Military and civil relations; It is the main task for the military to safeguard the state security, national interest and public security, But in the 2i Nt century security threatening, its patterns has move to threatening to the entire public and to other ' categories widely. Therefore cooperation with military arid public can only prevent the 21st security threats. Establishing Good Governance; For political and social unrest, economic development, and military security, establishing good governance is essential. The essence of policy and process lay down by the governments must be transparent, responsiveness, dutiful, and accountability. Conclusion : Cohprehensive Regional Security 11. To implement the national security, entire national security must be constructed from individual security and collective security. A
9 nation cannot exist by itself, since it has a relations with the outside world at all time it is essential to enforce and implement regional security and international security. 12. The need to face the security challenges of 21 century is to enhance the regional integration and reinforcing the regional comprehensive security. This should be achieved instead of developing national strength, which can generate internal competition and new forms of security dilemma. That's why regional comprehensive security should be a major focus and linking different levels of South East Asia, East Asia and Asia- Pacific region will be a necessary accomplishment. So as long as we, the Asian nations, work together and assist each other we are sure to overcome all the obstacle ahead of us and continue to move forward. Finally. I would like to wish this conference success. Thank You.