As political and economic power pivots to the east, countries in the region will be expected to play a more prominent role in managing global peace & security. However, our knowledge of the capabilities, constrains and policies of these countries are limited. This book is thus both timely and relevant, as it offers a cross-regional comparison of the peace operations capabilities of selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region. I would highly recommend it to all scholars and policy makers interested in the trends and future prospects of peace and stability operations. Cedric de Coning, Head, Peace Operations Research Group, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)