Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies

Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies
Name	Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies
Established	1995
Location	Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Type	Defense and security studies institution
Parent organization	United States Department of Defense

Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies is a regional security education institution established to promote cooperation, dialogue, and policy-relevant study among defense, diplomatic, law enforcement, and civilian officials across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Founded in Honolulu, Hawaii, the centre brings together participants from Pacific Island Forum members, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, People's Republic of China, and the United States to address transnational challenges such as maritime security, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The centre engages with multilateral fora, bilateral partners, and academic networks to inform strategic decision-making among senior practitioners and policymakers.

History

The centre was established in the mid-1990s amid post–Cold War realignments involving actors such as APEC, ASEAN Regional Forum, and the expansion of cooperative frameworks including the South Pacific Forum and the Pacific Islands Forum. Its creation followed dialogues among policymakers from United States Department of Defense, United States Indo-Pacific Command, and regional ministries in response to security challenges highlighted by incidents like the 1991 Gulf War and evolving concerns exemplified by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Early engagement drew participants from nations involved in events such as the 1998 Malacca Strait security consultations and initiatives linked to the Proliferation Security Initiative and Counterterrorism Coalition trends after the September 11 attacks. Over time the centre adapted curricula to include lessons from crises such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Cyclone Nargis, and disputes related to the South China Sea arbitration (Philippines v. China).

Mission and Programs

The centre’s mission aligns with strategic priorities articulated by actors like United States Pacific Command (now United States Indo-Pacific Command), and it supports policy dialogues involving institutions such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan), Ministry of Defence (Australia), Ministry of Defence (India), and regional bodies including ASEAN Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Program areas mirror topics addressed at conferences such as the Shangri-La Dialogue, ADMM-Plus, and panels involving the East-West Center and Lowy Institute. Core programs examine issues reflected in treaties and frameworks like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and proliferation concerns treated in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty dialogues. The centre supports seminars on themes present in publications by RAND Corporation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Brookings Institution.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Administratively the centre reports through chains associated with the United States Department of Defense and coordinates with commands including United States Indo-Pacific Command and academic partners such as Naval War College, National Defense University, and Harvard Kennedy School in occasional exchanges. Leadership has included senior military officers and civilian directors with backgrounds linked to institutions like Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy, Singapore Armed Forces, and think tanks including Council on Foreign Relations. Governing relationships reflect interactions with delegations from ministries such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs (People's Republic of China), Ministry of Defence (New Zealand), and agencies like United States Agency for International Development.

Education and Training Activities

The centre delivers resident courses, executive seminars, and modular short courses tailored to practitioners from organizations such as Royal Thai Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Malaysian Armed Forces, United States Coast Guard, and Australian Federal Police. Curricula draw on case studies from events like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and operations such as Operation Tomodachi and Operation Damayan. Educational partnerships include exchanges with universities such as University of Hawaiʻi, Australian National University, National University of Singapore, and Peking University. Alumni networks connect officials who later serve in posts linked to the United Nations, World Bank, International Maritime Organization, and regional bodies including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Research and Publications

Research outputs address topics explored by authors in outlets like International Security, Journal of Strategic Studies, Survival (journal), and policy briefs similar to those from Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada and Center for a New American Security. The centre publishes analyses on maritime domain awareness, counter-piracy related to incidents in the Gulf of Aden, disaster response informed by Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and nontraditional security threats including human trafficking cases tied to routes through the Andaman Sea and South China Sea. Collaborative research projects have referenced datasets maintained by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, International Organization for Migration, and modeling approaches used by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Partnerships and International Engagement

Partnership networks span regional organizations such as ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), multilateral institutions like the United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral cooperation with militaries including Japan Self-Defense Forces, Republic of Korea Armed Forces, Indian Armed Forces, and People's Liberation Army Navy. The centre participates in dialogues with academic and policy institutions including S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Malaysia), Think20, and intergovernmental entities like the Pacific Islands Forum and Secretariat of the Pacific Community. It supports track-two processes associated with the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific and engages with security dialogues such as Five Power Defence Arrangements discussions.

Facilities and Location

Located in Honolulu, on the island of Oʻahu, the centre occupies facilities that enable seminars and crisis exercises in proximity to institutions like the Pearl Harbor complex and academic neighbors including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the East-West Center. The site provides classrooms, conference spaces, and simulation labs used for tabletop exercises reflecting scenarios from incidents like Typhoon Haiyan and bilateral planning with commands such as United States Pacific Fleet. Its geographic position facilitates access for delegations traveling from capitals including Jakarta, Canberra, Wellington, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, and New Delhi.

Category:Defense policy institutions