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SECURITY DILEMMA & Arms RACE in SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION

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SECURITY DILEMMA & Arms RACE in SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION Journal of Diplomacy and International Studies P-ISSN: 2656-3878 https://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/jdis/index E-ISSN 2656-8713 SECURITY DILEMMA & ARMs RACE IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION POST-COLD WAR ERA Muhammad Arsy Ash Shiddiqy1 International Relations Department Universitas Islam Riau, [email protected] Student of Doctoral Program, Universitas Padjadjaran ABSTRACT The security conditions in the Southeast Asian region are relatively safe, there have never been direct confrontations or head-to-head wars between countries in the region, if ever there had been a confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia, but its not happen yet. During the cold war era, security in Southeast Asia was guaranteed by the two super power country, which are United States of America and Soviet Union. Some sort of bias think occur in this region, when the cold war ends European countries are committed to reducing their military budget, and the opposite is true in Southeast Asia. After the end of the cold war and the absence of security guarantees from the two countries, Southeast Asian countries began aggressively increasing their military budgets and increasing their defense force capabilities so that the Security Dilemma and Arms Race happen in this region. In particular, Indonesia has experienced an increase in the military budget from year to year, starting from 2007 Rp. 32 T to 2017 108 T. The increasing of military budget also occurs in all Southeast Asian countries, and this is clear evidence of the Security Dilemma and Arms Race in the Southeast Asian region. The research method used is descriptive qualitative research by describing all the phenomena of the research problem empirically. This study aims to explain and analyze the dynamics of Security Dilemma and Arms Race that happen in Southeast Asia, as well as Indonesia's involvement in this phenomenon, thereby increasing the defense budget each year. Keywords: Security Dilemma, Arms Race, Southeast Asia Region 66 Muhammad Arsy Ash Shiddiqy Security Dilemma & Arms Race in Southeast Asian Region Post-Cold War Era Journal of Diplomacy and International Studies P-ISSN: 2656-3878 https://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/jdis/index E-ISSN 2656-8713 A. INTRODUCTION especially countries which around him, Increasing military strength because each country (which took the absolutely being a sensitive matter action) considers that the action it takes is because it can cause a security dilemma merely defensive and the actions taken by for other countries. Adagium of security other countries are threatening. dilemma at least confirms two things. Arms Race defined as a dynamic First, efforts to increase the military process of interaction between countries strength of a country tend to always be or coalitions of countries which are interpreted as a means of developing competitive, dynamic, and forced to offensive power by other countries, and acquire their weapons. "Arms Race is a second, it is difficult to distinguish situation in which two or more countries between defensive forces and opensive try to have more and stronger weapons forces. This can lead to miscalculation, than each other". Arms race can also be misjudgment and mistrust. Increasing the interpreted as a continuous competitive military power of a country is a necessity, effort (militarily) carried out by two or especially if there is a driving factor in that more countries, each of which has the direction. That is, increasing the military capability to make more and stronger power of countries in the region does not weapons than the others. stand alone but there are factors that move Colin Gray said the characteristics in that direction. In the context of the of the Arms Race, which are: first, there are Southeast Asian region, the driving forces parties who indicate their relationship is are regional tensions, border disputes, the conflicting. Second, the structuring of seizure of natural resources, the shift of US power based on the calculation of the military activity to Asia, and the increasing enemy's capabilities and objectives. Third, presence of China on the LCS. open qualitative and quantitative A Security Dilemma is a condition competition in arms purchases. Finally, an carried out by a country to improve the increase in the defense budget and the rate security of its self by increasing its defense of revenue. In addition, Gray also stated or by forming an alliance with another that like war, the arms race has political country as carried out by its neighbors, objectives. Carl Von Clausewitz states that because of a feeling of "worry" about the war is a continuation of politics in other security of its own country. According to ways, so it can also be concluded that the John H. Herz himself, the security dilemma arms race is the militarization of war or in International Relations is "a politics. structural idea in which the efforts taken Military modernization or an by a country to maintain its own security increase in military power that occurred in needs, regardless of their intentions, tend Asia, especially Southeast Asia is actually to inconvenience other countries, also a logical consequence of economic 67 Muhammad Arsy Ash Shiddiqy Security Dilemma & Arms Race in Southeast Asian Region Post-Cold War Era Journal of Diplomacy and International Studies P-ISSN: 2656-3878 https://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/jdis/index E-ISSN 2656-8713 growth. This is what happened in the five themselves with confidence to face of US main countries in Southeast Asia called the military strength as one of the largest Big Five, they are Indonesia, Singapore, military forces in the world. For this Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. In reason, increasing military power is a addition, the expansion of regional choice that must be made by Southeast security coverage that must be Asian countries as well as for building safeguarded based on their respective independence in terms of securing the national interests has also contributed to country's sovereignty. encouraging countries in the region to The appearance of China as a major increase their military strength in order to country in the region with its military be able to reach their security territory. modernization has certainly also Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, for influenced the countries in the region to example, have an interest in the security of increase its military power, especially the Malacca Strait, as well as other Asian countries that have territorial disputes countries that make these strategic waters with China on the LCS and the East China their energy and trade supply routes. Sea. In recent years China has continued to Increasing the military power of countries show LCS that is in contact with several in the region will become a problem, if ASEAN member countries and the East misperceived and suspected as a form of China Sea that is in contact with Japan. threat to security in the region. To avoid China, with its increasing military security misunderstandings and spending (second highest after the US), destabilization, transparency and continues to build more modern military strategic trust are needed, and ARF as a forces and is certainly projected to be able multilateral security forum in the Region to break deeper into disputed waters in can play a role in building such the LCS and the East China Sea. transparency and strategic trust through According to Reuters news agency, the development of constructive dialogue sourced from a several observer and consultation. institutions, there are at least three ASEAN The shift in US military activity to countries that are strengthening defense Asia also seems to have influenced equipment. Indonesia is buying some countries in the region to adapt to their submarines from South Korea and military capabilities. At least it was done to maritime radar systems from China and be able to slightly offset the US military the US. Vietnam also added Russian events that are now projected into the submarines and fighter jets. Singapore is Asian region. Countries in the region as the not left behind. The tiny country is the fifth host certainly do not want to just be largest arms importer in the world and spectators in seeing the US military continues to add sophisticated weapons. presence in Asia. They also need to present Anticipating the development of China's 68 Muhammad Arsy Ash Shiddiqy Security Dilemma & Arms Race in Southeast Asian Region Post-Cold War Era Journal of Diplomacy and International Studies P-ISSN: 2656-3878 https://journal.uir.ac.id/index.php/jdis/index E-ISSN 2656-8713 military strength and also supported by leading. Inherent in this regard, some of rapid economic growth, Southeast Asian constraints such as a minimal budget (on countries are increasingly spending average still below 1% of Gross Domestic military budgets to strengthen shipping Product), as well as obstacles in the lanes, ports and maritime boundaries that embargo on arms from the United States are vital for the flow of exports and energy. which have occurred until 2005 were According to observers, territorial attacks. The challenges faced by the disputes in the South China Sea that Indonesian government. If the budget contained abundant oil and natural gas becomes the main obstacle in developing resources made Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia's defense posture, then efforts Philippines and Brunei have to anticipate towards increasing GDP become the development of China's military something that cannot be avoided. With capabilities, which also had an interest in the effort to double the amount of GDP, it those ocean. Even countries that are far is expected that the percentage of the from the dispute, such as Indonesia, defense budget will also be increased to Thailand and Singapore, also feel the need the reasonable and ideal level of Minimum to strengthen their respective maritime Essenaltial Force policy framework security by increasing the capability of adopted by Indonesia.
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