<P>The Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment examines key regional security issues relevant to the policy-focused discussions of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia¿s premier defence summit convened by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It is published each year in association with the Dialogue and the issues analysed within its covers are central to discussions at the event.</P><P></P><P>Among the topics explored are:</P><UL><P><LI>US Indo-Pacific strategy, alliances and security partnerships;</LI><P></P><P><LI>Chinese perspectives on regional security;</LI><P></P><P><LI>Taiwan¿s security and the possibility of conflict;</LI><P></P><P><LI>the continuing challenges posed by North Korea¿s nuclear and missile programmes;</LI><P></P><P><LI>the nuclear dynamics of Sino-American security relations;</LI><P></P><P><LI>air and naval operations in the Asia-Pacific;</LI><P></P><P><LI>Sino-American technology competition;</LI><P></P><P><LI>Japan¿s competition and cooperation wi