3-2-3 Review on Discussions with Overseas Specialists
(1) B. A. Hamzah, Maritime Institute of Malaysia
Dr. B. A. Hamzah, current director at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), specializes in security and safety of navigation in the Strait and has been playing a leading role in other maritime issues in Southeast Asia. MIMA deals with both military and non- military issues in the Strait of Malacca and the Indonesian Archipelago and with ASEAN-China power balance.
The discussion between the project members and Dr. Hamzah was focused on Malaysia's national maritime strategy, view toward China (especially China' s present and potential threat), prospect for ASEAN's future course, view toward Indonesia and Japan. Track II discussion between Japan and Malaysia turned out to be the first of its kind. This was also a major finding the project attained.
(2) Lee Seo-hang, Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, Ministry of Foreign Affair
The project also discussed with Dr. Lee, professor and director general for security studies at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (South Korean Foreign Ministry). He was accompanied by Dr Kim Tae-hyo, and the discussion was focused on the scope and form of cooperation between Japan and South Korea in the maritime realm. The project members were interested particularly in the reasons for South Korea's recent maritime initiatives. The project members concluded that the following factors drove South Korea to shift its focus to the maritime dimension：
--The declining North Korea Army's threat;
--Rising recognition of the importance of sealane passages for South Korea' s seabourn trade;
--President Kim Dae-jung's personal experience with the sea
South Korea seems to be more and more willing to increase its involvement in the international community through maritime activities in the 21st century. The discussion with Dr. Lee assured the project members that South Korea regards Japan as the most important partner for maritime cooperation in the Northeast Asia region. Given this, Japan should also give more and more serious considerations to Japan-South maritime cooperation in the future. For a detailed description and analysis of South Korea's maritime strategy, see Conference
