Piracy
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Conflicts - Tensions
India-U.S. defense cooperation deepens in western Indian Ocean
Mandeep Singh Defense cooperation between India and the United States in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) is becoming increasingly strategic, with the region’s waterways considered vital sea lines of communication for rising commercial shipping traffic, according to analysts. Concerns over assertive actions by Chinese vessels and threats from piracy are among the factors driving the growing collaboration. Defense exercises and…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
ROK Navy’s Cheonghae Unit key player in global anti-piracy missions
Felix Kim The Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy’s Cheonghae Unit continues to strengthen global maritime security initiatives 15 years after it was formed to support anti-piracy operations under United Nations mandates. Initially focused on operations in and around the Gulf of Aden off the Somalia coast, the unit has escorted thousands of vessels through threatened waters and conducted rescue operations.…
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Illicit Activity
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines renew commitment to cooperation
Gusty Da Costa Joint sea and air patrols conducted by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines under the 2017 Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) continue to demonstrate success and remain critical to Indo-Pacific maritime security, according to officials and analysts. The three countries agreed in June to build on their cooperative efforts going forward. Regular patrols, coordination and intelligence sharing established by…
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Regional
Cambodia targets illegal gamblers, human traffickers
FORUM Staff Spurred by global concern, Cambodian government leaders and law enforcement officials in mid-September 2022 launched a crackdown on largely Chinese crime syndicates that promote illegal online gambling and human trafficking in the gambling hub of Sihanoukville and the nation’s capital, Phnom Penh. The exploitation of mostly imported workers, lured to Cambodia through various scams, has tainted the Southeast…
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Illicit Activity
Southeast Asian partners enhancing trilateral maritime patrols
Gusty Da Costa The launch about five years ago of maritime patrols in the Sulu and Celebes seas involving the armed forces of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have corresponded with a sharp drop in piracy and terrorism, officials and analysts said. The three nations plan to enhance the patrols with improved surveillance, intelligence and communication to boost security and…
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Illicit Activity
Indo-Pacific fusion centers a bulwark against maritime threats
Tom Abke Navies and coast guards across the Indo-Pacific are benefiting from the work of fusion centers, which collect, analyze and report information about security incidents and threats menacing the region. Centers in India, Singapore and Vanuatu work with international liaison officers (ILOs) around the world to supply national maritime forces with the information and expertise needed to counter threats.…
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