Howard M. Hensel is Professor of Politico-Military Affairs at the USAF Air War College, USA.Amit Gupta is Associate Professor of International Security Studies at the USAF Air War College, USA.

• INTRODUCTION. PART I THE MARITIME HERITAGE OF THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 1. The Indian Ocean, Crossroads between East and West: Pre 1904. 2.The Great Power Struggle for the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: 1904-1949. 3. Decolonization and the Cold War in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: 1945-1991. 4. Maritime Strategic Developments in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Since the End of the Cold War. PART II CONTEMPORARY MARITIME CHALLENGES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 5. Strategic Maritime Oil Chokepoints in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. 6. From the Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden. 7. U.S. National Security Policy and the Persian Gulf. 8. The Security Significance of the Malacca-Singapore Straits. 9. The South China Sea: A Chinese Perspective. 10. Sino-Japanese Maritime Conflicts and Security Concerns in the East China Sea. CONCLUSION.

"An excellent and long awaited assessment of the strategic relationship between the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. This volume includes a number of well regarded regional and security specialists and is skillfully edited." Sheldon Simon, Professor, Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University, USA"The maritime lines of communication in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific have now assumed particular importance due to globalization, accompanied by the instability of the international political order. This volume of ten chapters by respected experts on the regions examines the history of and sheds new light on the contemporary importance of maritime navigation in these vital areas and should be read by specialists and interested laymen alike." Oles M. Smolansky, Professor Emeritus, Department of International Relations, Lehigh University, USA

Howard M. Hensel is Professor of Politico-Military Affairs at the USAF Air War College, USA.Amit Gupta is Associate Professor of International Security Studies at the USAF Air War College, USA.

• INTRODUCTION. PART I THE MARITIME HERITAGE OF THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 1. The Indian Ocean, Crossroads between East and West: Pre 1904. 2.The Great Power Struggle for the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: 1904-1949. 3. Decolonization and the Cold War in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: 1945-1991. 4. Maritime Strategic Developments in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Since the End of the Cold War. PART II CONTEMPORARY MARITIME CHALLENGES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 5. Strategic Maritime Oil Chokepoints in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. 6. From the Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden. 7. U.S. National Security Policy and the Persian Gulf. 8. The Security Significance of the Malacca-Singapore Straits. 9. The South China Sea: A Chinese Perspective. 10. Sino-Japanese Maritime Conflicts and Security Concerns in the East China Sea. CONCLUSION.

"An excellent and long awaited assessment of the strategic relationship between the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. This volume includes a number of well regarded regional and security specialists and is skillfully edited." Sheldon Simon, Professor, Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University, USA"The maritime lines of communication in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific have now assumed particular importance due to globalization, accompanied by the instability of the international political order. This volume of ten chapters by respected experts on the regions examines the history of and sheds new light on the contemporary importance of maritime navigation in these vital areas and should be read by specialists and interested laymen alike." Oles M. Smolansky, Professor Emeritus, Department of International Relations, Lehigh University, USA

Howard M. Hensel is Professor of Politico-Military Affairs at the USAF Air War College, USA.Amit Gupta is Associate Professor of International Security Studies at the USAF Air War College, USA.

• INTRODUCTION. PART I THE MARITIME HERITAGE OF THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 1. The Indian Ocean, Crossroads between East and West: Pre 1904. 2.The Great Power Struggle for the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: 1904-1949. 3. Decolonization and the Cold War in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: 1945-1991. 4. Maritime Strategic Developments in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Since the End of the Cold War. PART II CONTEMPORARY MARITIME CHALLENGES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. 5. Strategic Maritime Oil Chokepoints in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. 6. From the Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden. 7. U.S. National Security Policy and the Persian Gulf. 8. The Security Significance of the Malacca-Singapore Straits. 9. The South China Sea: A Chinese Perspective. 10. Sino-Japanese Maritime Conflicts and Security Concerns in the East China Sea. CONCLUSION.

"An excellent and long awaited assessment of the strategic relationship between the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. This volume includes a number of well regarded regional and security specialists and is skillfully edited." Sheldon Simon, Professor, Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University, USA"The maritime lines of communication in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific have now assumed particular importance due to globalization, accompanied by the instability of the international political order. This volume of ten chapters by respected experts on the regions examines the history of and sheds new light on the contemporary importance of maritime navigation in these vital areas and should be read by specialists and interested laymen alike." Oles M. Smolansky, Professor Emeritus, Department of International Relations, Lehigh University, USA