By John Coyne*
For very good reasons, maritime security concerns, particularly those centred on the South China Sea, have featured prominently in ASEAN member states’ individual and collective agendas over the last decade. The 10 ASEAN nations face a complex array of maritime threats. Issues such as China’s aggressive maritime strategy, piracy, terrorism, transnational organised crime and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are consistently challenging their sovereignty, the rule of law and regional stability.
