In early May this year, the Malaysian government considered replacing the Tun Sharifah Rodziah static offshore forward operating base with a Mobile Offshore Base (MOB). This shift in thinking is not merely a logistical upgrade but a timely and strategic recalibration of the country’s maritime security architecture. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Europe and the Indo-Pacific may be connected by global data flows, but their submarine cable policies reflect vastly different priorities. In Europe, concerns over hostile state interference—particularly from Russia—have put resilience, redundancy, and rapid response at the center of policy frameworks. In contrast, Indo-Pacific governments are preoccupied with regional autonomy and digital sovereignty, responding to […] The post Seabed Critical Infrastructure Protection: Resilience vs. ...| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Does Indonesia have a maritime strategy? There are two ways to approach this question: First, Jakarta does not have universally agreed national guidelines on maritime strategy. However, it consistently refers to three historical reference points: the Struggle for Independence (1945–49), the Djuanda Declaration (1957), and the Palapa Oath (14th century). These emphasize the far-flung archipelago of over 18,000 islands […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
The Philippines and the United States need to think about deterrence – as an Alliance – as President Donald Trump’s government lays out its future Indo-Pacific Strategy. The Philippines is likely to be in solidarity with how the second Trump administration will approach China. The Philippines also has room to be more proactive and bolder […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
On November 9, 2024, Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law both the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ASL Act). Observers have been particularly focused on the Philippine Maritime Zones Act for intensifying the dispute between China and the Philippines, but it is the ASL Act that has broad […] The post The Influence of the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act on Navigation Rights appeared first on Asia Maritime Transparency Initiat...| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
On April 10-14, 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr embarked on a working visit to the United States. While the trip was his fourth to the United States since assuming office in 2022, it was arguably the most impactful yet. Indeed, President Marcos traveled to Washington to attend the inaugural Japan-Philippines-U.S. trilateral summit. The […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
It is no secret that the Indo-Pacific suffers from a maritime security shortfall. Natural disasters, criminal activities, and interstate tensions all endanger seafarers, undermine the well-being of coastal communities, and threaten regional calamity. While the risk of conflict in the South China Sea dominates the news, that is far from the region’s only maritime security […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Recently there have been many dangerous encounters between the Philippines and China in the waters around the Second Thomas Shoal. It is an offshore maritime feature located in the exclusive economic of the Philippines, less than 200 nautical miles from the Philippine Island of Palawan, and almost 600 nautical miles from China’s Hainan Island. A […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
This article is part of the ‘Blue Security’ project led by La Trobe Asia, University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute, Griffith Asia Institute, UNSW Canberra and the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D). Views expressed are solely of its author/s and not representative of the Maritime Exchange, the Australian Government, or any […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
This article is part of the ‘Blue Security’ project led by La Trobe Asia, University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute, Griffith Asia Institute, UNSW Canberra and the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue (AP4D). Views expressed are solely of its author/s and not representative of the Maritime Exchange, the Australian Government, or any […]| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
AMTI's Island Tracker, featuring high-resolution satellite imagery and information on China's 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands and 7 outposts in the Spratly Islands.| Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative