An annual report from a Chinese military think tank has highlighted the Asia-Pacific region as a "new global center" of competition.

"The Strategic Review 2012" claims the spillover effects of China's development have become more prominent and big powers have intensified their gaming for the regional dominance.

Liu Lin, a researcher with the Academy of Military Science, says the increasing competition is going to create uncertainty over China's maritime security.

"First, countries are planning their maritime policies from a strategic perspective, and they have intensified their vying for the regional dominance. The U.S., in particular has been trying to seek more power in the western pacific and defend against emerging powers on maritime issues. It has also come up with this new idea of containing the Asia-Europe continent by tightening control of the Indian and the Pacific Ocean."

The report is also not ruling out a conflict between China and Japan over the Diaoyu islands dispute in future.

However Researcher Liu Lin says that particular conflict wont be resolved in the near future.

"I think the current hostile situation is going to last for a while, because this issue involves sovereignty and territorial integrity. It's hard for both sides to make compromises. What's more, the U.S. involvement and the historical legacy have made the matter even more complicated. So I think the confrontation between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands will become normalized. Earlier this year, some Japanese planes and ships have interrupted our regular patrol in that area. Therefore, frictions are unavoidable in the future."

The latest report also touches upon the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific Maritime Security.

It also says the Asia Pacific region is undergoing it's most significant adjustment since the end of World War Two.

The report is published by the Center for National Defense Policy under the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The CNDP has been tasked with researching major theories on China's national defense policies and drafting annual strategic reports on national security environment.

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