The East Asian Strategic Review is the flagship publication of NIDS. This annual report includes comprehensive analysis and the latest information on the strategic environment of East Asia and the issues of critical importance concerning regional security, including the rise of Islamic extremism, confrontation in the South China Sea, the increasingly hardline stances taken by major powers, nuclear and missile tests, and Japan’s national security policies following the enactment of its new security legislation. Following the end of the Cold War and amid the rapid globalization of the world, the international community has seen a dramatic shift in the global power balance unlike any before. The situation in East Asia in recent years is no different and has significantly impacted the foundations of Japan’s peace and security. Since the end of World War II, Japan has continued to be an advocate for democracy and the market economy, and conducted itself as a peaceful nation. Now more than ever Japan needs to play a more proactive role on the global stage. In order for Japan to maximize its political and diplomatic efforts to contribute to global peace and security through international cooperation and based on Japan’s concept of proactive contribution to peace, Japan must first precisely and comprehensively clarify its own understanding of the surrounding security landscape.