Will Asia-Pacific armed forces find their role in national defense and security shifting significantly in the future as the effects of climate change caused by global warming intensify? If so, how quickly will it happen?
Recent TV pictures and media reports of military helicopters and thousands of soldiers evacuating victims of Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan are just the latest sign of disaster relief becoming a more prominent part of military operations.
Of course, not all natural disasters are linked to climate change. But they are getting more costly as global warming causes more extreme weather, including violent storms, floods and droughts.