Purpose and Structure

The main purpose of the study is to investigate the linkages between some key dimensions of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and the issue of security. This is done through an examination of two key norms of the charter: the prohibition of the threat or use of force in inter-state relations and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The empirical application of these principles and their impact on regional security in the Pacific Asia region is examined through the study of the foreign policy of China and through the study of the principles governing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is motivated by the fact that both China and ASEAN put strong emphasis on non-use of force in inter-state relations and on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.

The study is structured in the following way. First, the key norms of the UN Charter relating the prohibition of the threat or use of force in interstate relations and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states are identified, followed by a presentation of the debate that they have generated. Second, the empirical application of these principles and their impact on regional security is in the Pacific Asia is examined through the foreign policy of China and the principles governing ASEAN.