Welcome to my blog on the politics of security in East Asia!

When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the factories make trucks and tractors.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
warheads are stockpiled outside the cities.

There is no greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,
no greater misfortune than having an enemy.

Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.

-Lao Tzu (from the Tao Te Ching)

This quote really shows how security was looked at in the past and even how it's viewed by the majority today. Security is seen as defending yourself (your state) with warheads from your enemy (other states). Lao Tzu did not want war but safety and security for the people of China. However, he failed to recognize that security means so much more than keeping war at bay.

As this blog will explore, the definition of, actors involved in, and approach to security has begun to shift. Security can now include addressing economic, environmental, human rights, and other issues that threaten the peace, happiness, and stability of an actor. The actors in security used to be states but have now come to include individuals, regions, multi-national corporations (MNCs), trans-national governing bodies, and other entities. Secure ends can now be reached by means other than military action. Security will now require a synergistic approach where complex solutions are reached.