The Center for Asia-Pacific Area Studies (CAPAS) was established in January 2003 with the goal of integrating multi-disciplinary studies on the Asia-Pacific region at Academia Sinica. Southeast and Northeast Asia constitute the two main area foci. CAPAS also aims to cultivate a new generation of domestic Asia-Pacific scholarship and to strengthen academic exchange and cooperation between Academia Sinica and related research institutions around the world. CAPAS is currently undertaking three major projects: Maritime History Studies, Trans-boundary Crossing and Circulation, and Development and Population.