CIAO DATE: 08/05

The Security Of Regional Sea Lanes

Abstract

The emergence of China and India as major global players will not only transform the regional geopolitical landscape but will also mean an increased dependence on the sea as an avenue for trade and transportation of energy and raw materials. Within the region, the Malacca Straits, Sunda Straits, and the Lombok Straits are the main sea lanes through which trade, energy, and raw material resources flow. Indeed, the strategic importance of the regional lanes was recognised by the late Michael Leifer but the threats indetified at that time were primarily those that concerned the safety of navigation, the control of the freedom of passage by the coastal state as well as the interruption of passage in the sea lanes by an external naval power like the Soviet Union. The threats that Michael Leifer had identified has faded into insignificance and new threats to safety of shipping have arisen in their place, and these include piracy and the spectre of maritime terrorism.

In response to both threats, the littoral countries have adopted individual, bilateral and multilateral countermeasures. However, effective multilateral responses are still limited despite the need for such responses due to the transnational nature of the threats. Therefore, as countries in the region share significant maritime interests, the topic of maritime security needs to remain high on the regional political agenda if we want to realise the late Michael Leifer’s vision of a stable and peaceful maritime regime in East Asia that will allow and oblige all states to manage their marine resources in accordance to the principles of international law, and without risk of tension and conflict.

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