By Prashanth Parameswaran
Firmer response comes amid growing concerns about the problem.
Indonesia and Malaysia are both stepping up their fight against piracy in the wake of growing security concerns in surrounding waters, news sources reported August 27.
Piracy is hardly a new issue for Southeast Asian states. As I have written before, the region is a logical target for such attacks as it is home to vital shipping lanes through which about half of world trade and a third of the world’s oil supply pass (See: “Over Half of World Piracy Attacks Now in ASEAN“).
Despite notably enhanced regional cooperation in recent years to address piracy concerns, incidents have nonetheless continued to be on the rise. According to the International Maritime Bureau, the first six months saw a total of 134 incidents of piracy and armed robbery, an increase from 116 during the same period last year. ReCAAP, a Singapore-headquartered anti-piracy organization, recorded six piracy incidents in the straits of Malacca and Singapore on 21 and 22 August alone.
Read the full story at The Diplomat