The Role of ASEAN in Establishing Regional Maritime Security

Abstract

Southeast Asia is a geographically important strategic location.  In particular, as it is a very important location in terms of the international maritime transportation route through the sea, it is receiving a lot of attention from national and other non-state actors in the region.  This article analyses many challenges that can affect maritime security conditions in Southeast Asia by applying DIME.  Internationally, China's economic growth has had an impact on the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region.  China's economic revival and military build-up in the Asia-Pacific region have actually changed US interest in the region.  In particular, China's claim to ownership of much of China's East and South Seas represents a challenge to liberalism in the Asia-Pacific maritime region. Conflicts between China and some countries (Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam) have arisen in East Asia and the Pacific South Sea at China's insistence. On the other hand, ASEAN region is mostly island countries, so most of the challenges are related to non-traditional threats such as terrorism, rebellion and transnational maritime crimes (piracy, armed robbery, smuggling, illegal activities at sea, etc.).  In addition, another challenging situation among ASEAN member states is border disputes.  As a Southeast Asian national organization, ASEAN has a moral obligation and responsibility to address these issues in order to maintain regional maritime security.  In addition, as a new frame work in terms of collective response, the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) specifies that by 2025, a peaceful, safe and stable region in relation to maritime security will be built. Accordingly, in this paper, based on the SWOT analysis of ASEAN's role in maritime security in Southeast Asia considering internal factors (strengths-weaknesses) and external factors (opportunity threats), the strategic position of ASEAN should take a strength-opportunity strategy. As a result, ASEAN must adopt a strategy of combining strengths and opportunities, leveraging these strengths to capitalize on the opportunities it has to play a role in maintaining maritime security in Southeast Asia.