Unresolved Maritime Boundaries And Implications For Maritime Security In Southeast Asia

In its non-traditional form, maritime security is concerned with the prevention of intentional damage through sabotage, subversion, or terrorism. A maritime security regime is designed to help safeguard a nation's maritime transport system and offshore facilities from terrorism and unlawful interference. Under this regime, all security-regulated ports, port facilities, offshore facilities, port and offshore service providers and ships undertake security risk assessments and implement security plans to address identified risks. Following the incidents in the United States of America on 11 September, 2001, the international
community resolved to implement a system to secure the maritime transport sector against the threat of terrorism. The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in December 2002, was the result. Subsequent events in Bali, London, Madrid and Mumbai, to name a few, bring to the fore the collective international concerns about safety
and security at sea, at land/sea interface as well as the hinterland of coastal and island states. Maritime and terrestrial trans-boundary security must be established and enforced. Where international boundaries have been delimited, there is a lesser likelihood of acts of transgression. In the 'grey' legal areas, there exist potential problems. This paper highlights the un-delimited boundaries in the regional context, addresses the vex question of national maritime claims, briefly examines the issues behind the problems and offers an analysis of the concerns and issues. It stops short of making suggestions for the alignment of future boundaries. However, it argues that cooperative ventures may be an avenue for resolving disputes provided the political will exists.