The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies held a conference on Economics and Security in the Asia-Pacific Area in Honolulu, 12-13 January 1998. Policy makers, defense officials and academics from Asia and the U.S. attended to discuss political and security implications of economic events. Here three participants talk during a break: Dr. Marcus Noland, Senior Fellow, Institute for International Economics; Dr. Charles Morrison, Director, Program on International Economics and Politics, East-West Center; and Dr. Robert Manning, Chairman, Council on Foreign Relations.

At approximately 1:30 AM local time on 6 August 1997, the island of Guam became the site of a terrible air tragedy. Korean Airlines (KAL) flight 801 ended abruptly with the deaths of over 225 passengers and crew. In the weeks that followed the crash, the lives of those involved with the rescue efforts, crash investigation, treatment of survivors, recovery of remains, assistance to the affected families, and all other aspects of the tragedy, were forever changed. Though this was not a military crash, hundreds of U.S. military servicemen and servicewomen and their families joined residents of Guam, Korean citizens, and countless others in the assistance efforts.

Approximately 140,000 Japanese citizens visited the USS Independence (CV-62) on 6 and 7 September at Otaru, Japan. This was first port call by the Independence to a civilian port in Japan. The 81,000 ton carrier had 10,000 visitors lined up by 8am each morning.

On 12 November 1997, a U.S. military aircraft delivered 21 metric tons of donated U.S. military supplies for the relief of Typhoon Linda victims in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. The donated humanitarian goods included medical equipment, clothing, tents and shelter materials. Here a Vietnamese truck loads the goods at Tan Son Nhut Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Approximately 140,000 Japanese citizens visited the USS Independence (CV-62) on 6 and 7 September at Otaru, Japan. This was first port call by the Independence to a civilian port in Japan. The 81,000 ton carrier had 10,000 visitors lined up by 8am each morning.

Japanese citizens visit the USS Independence's (CV-62) huge hangar bay.