The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is guided by a collection of principles known as the ASEAN Way, which emphasizes sovereignty and consensus. When external pressures have forced ASEAN to face contentious issues, internal divisions have torn at the group’s cohesion, and consensus has proved difficult to reach. When Myanmar’s military dictatorship was put on the fast track to ASEAN membership in the mid-1990s, democratic Thailand and the Philippines objected, and strong Western pressure to delay Burmese accession put the group in a difficult spot. Fifteen years later, territorial disputes in the South China Sea pitted ASEAN claimant states against non-claimant counterparts inclined to support an assertive and wealthy China’s point of view. In the first case, reaction against US attempts to sway ASEAN’s decision united the group in support of Myanmar’s admission; in the second case, China’s economic inducements succeeded in dividing the group, to the extent that a 2012 summit ended in disagreement and rancor. ASEAN will need to revise some aspects of the ASEAN Way, particularly sovereignty norms, and create greater binding force to generate the cohesion necessary to effectively deal with future regional problems.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the value-added of the Navy's nowcast/forecast and GFO satellite to the naval antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare. For the former, the nowcast/forecast versus observational fields were used by the WAPP to determine the suggested presets for MK 48 variant torpedo. The metric used to compare the two sets of outputs is the relative difference in acoustic coverage area generated by WAPP. Output presets are created for five different scenarios, two anti-surface warfare scenarios and three ASW scenarios, in each of two regions: the East China Sea and South China Sea. Analysis of the output reveals that POM outperforms MODAS in all tactic scenarios. For the latter, the MODAS (T, S) profiles were used by the WAPP to determine suggested presets for Mk 48 variant torpedo. The only difference in the MODAS fields was the altimeter used to initialize the respective MODAS fields. The same metrics used in the nowcast/forecast case were used to generate and compare the acoustic coverages. Analysis of the output reveals that, in most situations, WAPP output is not very sensitive to the difference in altimeter orbit.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Linear sound sweeps from a towed J15-3 sound source were collected at a moored VLA hydrophone array in the South China Sea during the ASIAEX experiment in May 2001. Measured signals were filtered and pulse compressed. The processed data showed a high signal to noise ratio. Given an a priori chirp sonar survey, a two layer bottom "first guess" model was constructed. A broadband coupled-mode model was used to perform an exhaustive frequency variant sensitivity study of VLA pressures to changes in bottom properties as a basis for the geoacoustic inverse problem. Study results provided information on the observability of the various geoacoustic parameters and a procedure for the inversion. Matched field processing of the VLA data, using the same coupledmode model, was then performed to calculate ambiguity diagrams from which geoacoustic parameter estimates were obtained. Since VLA pressure fields were not sensitive to changes in the sediment attenuation coefficient, a matched field technique that correlated the slope of modeled transmission loss to the negative slope of 10log of the observed energy was performed in order to obtain estimates of the attenuation. These estimates showed a frequency dependent attenuation coefficient in the 50-600Hz frequency band. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

This research aims at examining the Vietnamese online media’s framing of conflict, thereby highlighting the outstanding characteristics of peace journalism and war journalism frames available in the media of an Asian peripheral country when it covers conflicts with other core, more powerful nations. The study is inspired from an overarching hypothesis of a possible junction between peace journalism and public diplomacy as relevant theories have it that they are basically identical in one sense: both representing a form of message which carries the note of peace-rebuilding, solution-orientated and mutual understanding in the war context. That message is delivered through media to reach out the foreign publics, not only to gain benefits for national interests but also to point out a solution for peace and offer an opportunity to conflict-resolution talks. The events chosen for study are media analysis following two attacks in late May and early June, 2011 against two Vietnamese oil exploration vessels in the South China Sea in which China was the accused. Basing on the theories of peace journalism, public diplomacy and world system theory, the research hypothesized that Vietnamese online media’s framing of China throughout seven months May 1st to November 30th, 2011 is inclined towards peace journalism. Two research techniques were employed: Quantitative Content Analysis to find out the dominant frame of the Vietnamese online media when covering the two clashes between Vietnamese and Chinese ships; and Qualitative Critical Discourse Analysis to further examine what messages the media aspire to send to foreign publics and how these messages are crafted. Findings from the content analysis rejects the main hypothesis, showing that the Vietnamese online media still opted for the war journalism frame even though theoretical and empirical evidence confirms Vietnam’s soft, assuaging and non-provocative approach in its public diplomacy with China. CDA results however highlighted the characteristics of the Vietnamese online media’s war frame: very tactful and implicit. The negative China presentation and positive self-presentation of Vietnam cannot be clearly seen through the use of victimizing, dehumanizing and emotionalizing language, but through implications and presuppositions hidden in the sentences. The implied messages that the Vietnamese online media want to send out the foreign publics portray China as a perverse bully neighbor and a two-faced partner, defying international law and breaking regional peace. Meanwhile, Vietnam is portrayed as a tolerant victim of China – its own friend and as a noble, forgiving friend of China. These messages are presented in the media by a very flexible, diplomatic and reconciliatory language so as to create an enemy scene with China. The study confirms the value and applicability of the theories selected and findings from previous studies. It also inspires future studies on expanding public diplomacy and peace journalism theories to make it more applicable to media of similar state structure or those in Asia./.

The prominence of the South China Sea comes from its wealth of energy resources, fisheries, and maritime trade that traverses through its waters. These assets entice many southeast Asian countries to stake their claims over the features of the sea. In recent years, China’s rising power has allowed the country to increasingly assert its authority in the territory without much of an opposing force. Of the few actors that are capable of policing China’s actions, the United States is the most promising, yet has failed to meet international expectations. Through two case studies and theoretical analysis, this thesis examines the failures of American deterrence policy through a two-part approach. First, it investigates the incident of the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff between the Philippines and China, analyzing the consequences of American policy failure. It then examines Chinese island reclamation efforts, and how the failures from the first case study can explain the new Chinese strategy and rationale behind Chinese activities. Lastly, the paper explores the deterrence theory and its applications to gray zone conflicts, pointing out components of successful deterrence in these types of engagements and why American deterrence policy was ineffective.

Methane (CH4) is not only important but also a long-lived greenhouse gas. Scientists estimated that more than half of CH4 is released from the water column. Studies of methane from water column are almost focused on rice fields, wetlands and swamps in Taiwan. There are only limited studies of methane about rivers, lakes and coasts. So this study investigated CH4 distribution in natural waters on and around Taiwan. The average surface methane concentration in the South China Sea (SCS) is about 5.10¡Ó3.61 nM (n=103). The average surface methane concentration in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) is about 3.44¡Ó3.89 nM (n=56), lower than in the SCS. The average surface concentration in the Northern and Southern Taiwan Strait are, respectively, 4.72¡Ó3.19 nM (n=64) and 4.01¡Ó3.19 nM (n=51), and are between the average concentrations in the SCS and the WPS. The sea-to-air fluxes of methane in the SCS and the WPS are 0.38¡Ó0.99 £gmol/m2/h (n=103) and £gmol/m2/h (n=56), respectively. The sea-to-air fluxes of methane in the Northern and Southern Taiwan Strait are, respectively, 0.37¡Ó0.55 £gmol/m2/h (n=64) and 0.10¡Ó0.53 £gmol/m2/h (n=51). Although the sea-to-air fluxes for methane is much lower than the flux for carbon dioxide, methane emission in the SCS contributes nearly the same greenhouse effect as carbon dioxide does. In Taiwan, the average surface methane concentration in rivers is about 3221¡Ó12386 nM, and the emission is about 104¡Ó337 (£gmol/m2/h) (n=179). The average surface methane concentration and flux are, respectively, 2164¡Ó5432 nM and 265¡Ó1289 £gmol/m2/h (n=120) in the water column in China, including the coasts of Hong Kong , Pearl River and Yangtze River. The average surface methane concentration and flux in the natural water are higher than in Taiwan. In Asia, the average surface methane concentrations of the natural waters are, respectively, 8240¡Ó22753 nM (n=27) and 7639¡Ó24554 nM (n=50) in Thailand and Indonesia, twice the concentration in Taiwan. The average surface methane concentrations of the natural waters are, respectively, 2841¡Ó3358 nM (n=5) and 1939¡Ó3694 nM (n=15) in Malaysia and the Philippines, lower than in Taiwan. The emissions of methane in the natural waters are, respectively, 845¡Ó2622 £gmol/m2/h (n=50), 292¡Ó341 £gmol/m2/h (n=5) and 181¡Ó356 £gmol/m2/h (n=15) in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, also much higher than in Taiwan. The flux of methane in natural waters in Thailand (100¡Ó265 £gmol/m2/h, n=25) is as the same as in Taiwan.

Seasonal dynamics of unicellular diazotrophs were investigated in the upstream Kuroshio and the northern South China Sea (SCS). Unicellular diazotrophs had been postulated as an important N2-fixing contributor for the phenomenon of N* in the SCS where abundances of filamentous Trichodesmium and Richelia were scarced. Samples were collected during four cruises between August 2008 and August 2009 in summer (CR1310 and CR910), winter (CR886), and late spring (CR899), respectively. Sampling stations located between 21¢XN-22¢XN and 116¢XE-122¢XE in the upstream Kuroshio off southeast Taiwan and covering the shelf and basin waters of the northern SCS. The abundance of the unicellular diazotrophs was determined using whole-cell immunocytochemical method in which antibody of nitrogenase was used as the probe. Cells containing nitrogenase can be visualized and counted after the antigen-antibody reaction under microscope. Unicellular diazotrophs were classified to four types according to their sizes and shapes. For diameters of those with 1-3 £gm and in coccoid shape are called 1-3 £gm C, diameters of 1-3 £gm and in rod shape are called 1-3 £gm R, diameters of >3-10 £gm and in coccoid shape are called >3 £gm C, and diameters of >3-10 £gm and in rod shape are called >3 £gm R. Surface abundance of the unicellular diazotrophs was highest in winter in both the Kuroshio and the SCS, followed by summer, and was least in late spring. Among four cell types, 1-3 £gm C usually was the most abundant group, followed by 1-3 £gm R and >3 £gm R, and was least for the group of >3 £gm C. The abundances between groups of 1-3 £gm C and 1-3 £gm R were positively correlated. Likewise, the abundances between >3 £gm C and >3 £gm R were positively correlated. However, the total abundance of small cells (1-3 £gm C+R) was not significantly related to the large cells (>3 £gm C+R). During summer and late spring, the abundance of unicellular diazotrophs in the SCS was 1.3-2 times of that in the Kuroshio. However, in winter the abundance in the Kuroshio was 1.2 times of that in the SCS. Surface water temperature was found negatively correlated to the abundance of 1-3 £gm C, >3 £gm C, >3 £gm R, and large cells (>3 £gm C+R), respectively. Significant correlations among surface water temperature and surface chlorophyll a, [NO2+NO3], SRP and N:P ratio implicated that the dynamics of cell abundances could be attributed to the correlated ecological variables of surface water temperature. The dynamics for the abundances of >3 £gm C, >3 £gm R, and large cells (>3 £gm C+R) were suggested to relate with the fluctuation of SRP concentration. Unicellular diazotrophs accounted for 60-90 % of total unicellular cells in terms of cell number. Vertical distributions of unicellular diazotrophs in the Kuroshio and the SCS were in similar trends, with maximum abundance in deep water during summer and late spring, and on surface water during winter.

The issue of South China Sea is one of the hottest international disputes in South East Asia due its location amid the connection between Southeast Asia to Northeast Asia and the rich resources. The undecided maritime delimitation makes the situation more complicated. Because each one of the ASEAN Claims has her own consideration of the interest, their claims and policies confront from each other's, and no consensus has been reached. However, encountering the fact that China proclaimed the entire region of South China Sea, ASEAN Claims attempt to unit themselves to deal with the threat, to negotiate the issue of South China Sea with China as a whole, and attempt to internationalize the issue. Thus, this paper is aimed to realize under what circumstance, ASEAN Claims will tend to unite in the issue of South China Sea, or vise versa, in what circumstance makes ASEAN Claims tend to collapse. According to the "Balance of Threat," China's threat to South China Sea affairs leads the changing of the unity of ASEAN Claims directly, and influences the consistency of South China Sea's policy. Besides the United States, the other side of the balance of the two counter powers, the treat brought by China in South China Sea affairs is the key to influence the South China Sea policy consistency of ASEAN Claims. "South China Sea Core interest" is one of match instance.

Uranium and thorium radionuclides were measured on two gravity cores (T17G and T18G) and one box core (T19B) collected from the western South Okinawa Trough (SOT), one gravity core from off shore Southwest Taiwan (N3) and three box cores (C, D and E) from the northern South China Sea (SCS) in order to examine the variations of these radionuclides and their activity ratios in the sediments of the areas and to characterize the source function of the sediments and their geochemical implication based on these nuclides. For long half-life radionuclides such as 238U, 234U, 232Th and 230Th, the activities in the cores of the SOT and Southwest Taiwan areas show no significant vertical or areal variations, implying no significant variation in sediment supply or depositional environment within the past 100 years. The average activity of 238U is 1.65 dpm/g and 1.33 dpm/g in the SOT and Southwest Taiwan areas, respectively, and that of 232Th is 3.57 dpm/g and 3.34 dpm/g, respectively. The average activities of 238U and 232Th are, respectively, 1.37 dpm/g and 2.37 dpm/g in the SCS. The mean 232Th activity is lower in the SCS than in the SOT and Southwest Taiwan. The mean 232Th activity of the sediments in the SOT and Southwest Taiwan is quite comparable to that of the shale, slate and black schist in Taiwan, suggesting that these sediments are the terrigenous detrial materials from Taiwan. The 238U and 234U activities in the cores of these two areas show no significant vertical nor areal variations with activities ranging between 1.3 and 2 dpm/g, and their 234U /238U activity ratios being about 1.1, quite close to that of seawater (1.14). Since 238U and 234U are quite comparable among the three areas, the higher activity of 230Th in excess over 234U in the northern SCS may be due to greater water depth that allows more 234U produced 230Th to be scavenged from the water column. The uranium and thorium radionuclides and their activity ratios in the SOT and Southwest Taiwan sediments suggest that these sediments are the terrigenous detrial materials from Taiwan. The source function of the SCS sediments is more complex than that of the above-mentioned sediments.

The purpose of this study was to discuss the CO2 variation in and around the South China Sea (SCS), the largest marginal sea in the world. The SCS and Sulu Sea (SS) in November and December respectively, were a small CO2 source to the atmosphere. The West Philippine Sea (WPS) was a large CO2 source to the atmosphere in September. Due to strong upwelling and mixing in the SCS, the excess CO2 penetrated only to approximately 1000m compared to 1200m in the WPS. Because the SCS subsurface water flows to the SS through the 420 m-deep Mindoro Strait, the excess CO2 in the SS was found throughout the entire water column. According to NOAA, 2002 was a weak-to-moderate strength ENSO year and the second warmest since 1986. The Taiwan Strait is the sole passage which connects the East and South China Seas, but the CO2 variation in the Taiwan Strait is unclear during the ENSO year. We heady discuss the relation between the ENSO and CO2 variation in the Taiwan Strait. During the ENSO year, the Penghu Channel mixed in more Kuroshio water but the upwelling strength weakened. During an ENSO event, the southwest monsoon and surface circulation are weaker than normal, hence there is less SCS water flowing to the Penghu Channel. Primary productivity in the non-ENSO year (2001) was high so the fCO2 was low in the upwelling area in the Penghu Channel. The £G fCO2(sea-air) was about 15µatm and 20µatm in the non-ENSO year and the ENSO year, respectively. The southern Taiwan Strait was a source of CO2 in summer. The hydrology in the northern Taiwan Strait in summer was comprised mainly of two different water masses. A salinity front was found at between 25.67oN, 121.24oE and 25.87oN, 120.95oE in the non-ENSO year and at between 25.67oN, 121.24oE and 25.77oN, 121.08oE in the ENSO year. There was coastal upwelling in the western Taiwan Strait in the ENSO year. In the ENSO year, the southward flowing China Coastal Current in winter (January to March) was weaker than normal, which led to a higher percentage of northward flowing water mass in summer. As a result, the summer time salinity in the surface layer became higher so the vertical density gradient became lower than a normal year. East of the front was the Kuroshio and west of the front was the water mass that flew through the Taiwan Strait. The Kuroshio is high in temperature and salinity so the fCO2 to the east of the front was higher than found west of the front in the non-ENSO year. In the ENSO year, owing to the coastal upwelling, the fCO2 near the Chinese coast was higher than east of the front. The northern Taiwan Strait had a £G fCO2(sea-air) of about 21µatm and 16µatm in the non-ENSO and the ENSO years, respectively, and it was still a source of CO2 in summer.