When the political history of the 21st century is written, it may well trace the tipping point toward war in Asia to our present decade.
According to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: "No one can say what will happen in the next 20 years. Quite possibly the status quo will prevail, with repeated brinkmanship and occasional tensions, but hopefully no war. But worse outcomes are easily imaginable."
He was referring to conflict on the Korean Peninsula and between Japan and China, but such a conflagration could well involve South Korea and Japan's ally, the United States either directly or indirectly. Indeed, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey, believes that the risk of war in Asia will increase over the next 10 years as the U.S. military technological edge over China erodes.