South East Asia – Maritime Security Review

China’s Secretive Maritime Militia May Be Gathering at Whitsun Reef

By Andrew S. Erickson An obscure boomerang-shaped feature in the South China Sea may host the next phase of PRC maritime coercion. Since at least March 7, 2021, many dozens […]

Indonesia finds weapons on impounded Iranian tanker

ISMIRA LUTFIA TISNADIBRATA JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities said on Friday that firearms and ammunition have been found on an Iranian supertanker, one of the two vessels seized in the country’s waters […]

Singapore’s navy tests a new layer of surveillance: unmanned vessels

By: Mike Yeo MELBOURNE, Australia – Singapore is testing unmanned surface vessels with a locally developed, AI-driven navigation algorithm that could be used for maritime security operations in the congested […]

Indonesian Navy Catches Five Pirates in the Act of Raiding a Barge

The Indonesian Navy successfully intercepted five pirates in the middle of a theft aboard a barge in the Singapore Strait. The suspects allegedly boarded the barge Linau 133 as it […]

Massive haul of drugs confiscated by navy on Preah Sihanouk island

Khouth Sophak Chakrya More than 460 kg of illegal drugs were found and confiscated by naval forces of the Front Line Maritime Security Command in a forest on Koh Polowai […]

China authorizes coast guard to fire on foreign vessels if needed

China passed a law on Friday that for the first time explicitly allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels, a move that could make the contested waters around […]

Navy unveils new maritime security flotilla, with armed ships that can go alongside vessels quickly

By Aqil Haziq Mahmud SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) on Tuesday (Jan 26) inaugurated its new Maritime and Security Response Flotilla (MSRF), aimed at boosting Singapore’s maritime security […]

Asia piracy incidents hit 5-year high in 2020, shipping insurance rates firm

Sea robbery and piracy related incidents across Asia increased 17% year on year to just under 100 in 2020, amid consistent threat of possible attacks by the Abu Sayyaf Group, […]

Indonesia says spots Chinese research vessel in its waters, tracker off

By Agustinus Beo Da Costa JAKARTA (Reuters) – A Chinese research vessel has been identified in the waters of Indonesia with its tracking system turned off, authorities said on Thursday, […]

2 Japan-Based Destroyers Conduct Second Taiwan Strait Transit This Month

By: Megan Eckstein Two Japan-based destroyers conducted a Taiwan Strait transit today, in the second such transit in three weeks and the fourth overall mission during that time to push […]