SUMARIO: Foreword - List of abbreviations - Overview: east Asia en 2004 - Maritime security in East Asia and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction - Japan's leading role in East Asian regionalism toward building an East Asian community - The Korean peninsula changing security environments - China peaceful rise in light and shadow - Southeast Asia elections and new governments - Russia tightening state control - The United States toward building a defense posture for the 21st century - Japan national defense program guidelines and defense capabilities for the 21st century - Commentaries and references