It is increasingly clear in the post-Cold War period that the Asia-Pacific region needs security structures with which to manage developing regional tensions. The Asia-Pacific states are apprehensive about the behavior and intentions of China, especially regarding Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the disputed islands in the South China Sea. Also worrying are questions about Japan's future role in the region, disputes on the Korean Peninsula, and uncertainty about the American commitment to Asia-Pacific security. Besides these larger issues, there are numerous smaller territorial disputes and political tensions among the countries of the region.' The most ambitious attempt to manage security in the post-Cold War AsiaPacific is the recently created ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). ARF is a group of 21 countries that are part of Asia and/or border the Pacific Ocean.2 At its core is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN has acquired an impressive reputation as a successful regional organization,