The idea of peace in Asia

The 21st century is being marked by a decline in the primacy of the West and a corresponding return of Asia. From 1 AD to 1800 AD, China and India have been the two largest economies of the world. After 200 years of Western dominance, Asia is again set to return. However, this return of Asia is also marked by the threat of conflict: between US and China in the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits; between China and India; between China and Japan; and between India and Pakistan. If the rise of Asia is to be peaceful, these potential conflicts need to be managed.

This roundtable discusses how the ‘Asian century’ can emerge in a peaceful manner. It asks: What does conflict resolution entail in the Asian context? Can Asia’s rise avoid a redux of the ‘Cold War’? How is the idea of ‘peace’ and ‘conflict’ resolution different in Asia, as compared to the West?

Moderator: Mr Kishore Mahbubani | National University of Singapore

Speakers: Prof Wang Gungwu | National University of Singapore

Ambassador Chan Heng Chee | Singapore Foreign Ministry

Prof Kanti Bajpai | National University of Singapore

Event URL: https://ari.nus.edu.sg/events/20211109-peace-in-asia/

The views expressed in this forum are those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, or the institutions to which the authors are attached.