Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / Since the end of the Cold War, the principle naval powers of East Asia--China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea --have increased the importance they attach to their maritime strategies relative to the changing situation in East Asia and adjoining waters. With the growing reliance on each of these countries on seaborne trade and supply of resources, including oil, the countries' maritime defense policies, including the sea lanes of communications (SLOCs), are more important than ever. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the maritime visions of these three countries, the changing maritime security environment they address the maritime territorial disputes, in which they are engaged and the potential for a naval arms race in East Asia. It assesses the impact of Korean reunification and Chinese reunification on their maritime strategies and prospects for a regional multilateral maritime security regime. This thesis emphasizes the importance of the U.S. Navy's forward presence in stabilizing potential problems at sea in East Asia. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

The international system has been confronting with constant changes since the end of the Cold War. Especially in the last twenty years on the international chessboard has emerged a new player that provides a wide range of military and security services - private military and security companies (PMSCs). While operations PMSCs are mainly associated and confined with conflict and war zones in Africa and the Middle East, this thesis entitled "Private military and security companies in the fight against the pirates from the South China sea to the horn of Africa" is about private military and security companies which provide special security services - naval. The growing demand for these services leads to the increase of private providers not only along the Somali coast, but also in Southeast Asia. The aim of the thesis is to explain why PMSCs engage in the fight against piracy, respectively what are the conditions for the initiation and development of private naval security activities.