This book, first published in 1986, examines the challenges the United States faced in maintaining a strong nuclear deterrence capability in the Far East without giving rise to political tensions among its allies. The Soviet aggression in the region, shown in the invasion of Afghanistan and the shooting down of a Korean airliner, demonstrated the need for a Western counterbalance, but the Asian nations were wary of becoming pawns in a nuclear power play between the superpowers. This book evaluates the meaning of Moscow’s military buildup in the global context; analyses the impact of the buildup from the perspective of China, Korea, Japan, the nations of ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand; explores the interaction of the buildup with the unresolved conflict on the Korean peninsula; and assesses the European experience with the Soviet nuclear threat and examines its implications for Asia. It also evaluates the linkages between European and Asian security.
