Cross-Strait Participation in the Council for Security Cooperation: A Case Study of a Multilateral Track Two Approach to Conflict Prevention

Abstract

The Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) is characterized by neo-liberal thinking on cooperative security and ideational contributions to regional security. Its discussions are less focused on ongoing tensions or conflicts in the region. Despite the fact that CSCAP does not get involved in resolving any particular conflict, the inclusion of non-like-minded security actors in a dialogue process suggests a possible role in conflict prevention. During the decade of cold peace (1999-2008), when official/semi-official contacts across the Taiwan Strait were limited to managing the politico-diplomatic tension, CSCAP was a stable channel through which delegations from Beijing and Taipei could exchange views on regional security. This study takes a close look at the case of cross-Strait participation in CSCAP during that period from the perspective of conflict prevention and explores the theoretical limitations of a multilateral track two approach to pre-conflict prevention.