「信心暨安全建立措施」，意指採取雙邊或多邊協議、正式或非正式措施、軍事 或非軍事措施，來降低不確定性及避免對抗，已成為促進國家之間信賴及了解的一項有效途 徑。「信心暨安全建立措施」是由「信心建立措施」發展而來，又稱為第二代「信心建立措 施」，兩者主要的不同在於「信心暨安全建立措施」更強調軍事層面的重要性。「歐洲安全 暨合作會議 (組織 ) 」的運作， 使國際社會對「信心暨安全建立措施」有深層、廣泛的認 識。歐洲的「信心暨安全建立措施」經由一步一步的發展累積而成。它最早出現於一九七五 年赫爾辛基會議的「最後議定書」，至一九八六年「斯德哥爾摩文件」時被稱為第二代發展 ，至一九九○、一九九二、一九九四年又分別有更新的「維也納文件」出現。亞太地區本身 不是同質性地區，而國與國的邊界經常為海洋所隔離，而非陸地毗鄰。亞太地區國家的文化 型態、宗教信仰及歷史傳統，也較歐洲更加分歧與多元。然而，「東協區域論壇」及「亞太 安全合作理事會」在它們發展的過程中，也將「信心暨安全建立措施」置於優先目標。

　　　　　Confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs), such as adopting formal and informal measures to reduce uncertainty and avoid confrontations, have turned out to be useful vehicles for promoting trust and understanding among states. CSBMs are second generation variation of confidence-buildhing measure (CBMs). The former are usually understood to be more militarily significant than the later. The Conference (Organization) on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) has enormously contributed to an international knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of CSBMs. The experience of CSBMs in Europe have undergone a step-by- step development. The first ones were enshrined in the Final Act of the Conference at Helsinki in 1975, the second ones in the Stockholm Document in 1986, and the third ones in the Vienna Documents in 1990, 1992 and 1994. The Asia Pacific region is not itself a homogenous region and the frontiers between countries are often demarcated at sea, not on land. Cultural styles, religious belief and traditions are much more diverse. However, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) have placed the priority of CSBMs in their development strategies.