Towards an open, secure and rules-based maritime order in Asia.
Water is the dominant geographic feature in Asia, covering nearly 60 percent of its area. From the South China Sea to the Malacca Strait, and from the Sea of Japan to the Gulf of Thailand, the maritime realm is central to the economic, political and security affairs of the region. Asia Maritime Index is a project of Tokyo International University’s Maritime Security Lab and funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) / 日本学術振興会.
Research
In-depth, policy-driven research on maritime security issues in Asia.
U.S. Naval Presence Needed in Sea of Japan to Strengthen Deterrence Against Chinese Aggression
To counter China’s growing military threat and coercive tactics, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has increased Japan’s diplomatic, economic, and…
What does it look like for Australia and Southeast Asia to Develop a Joint Agenda for Maritime Security
Maritime security is vital for Australia and Southeast Asia, making it a shared priority issue for the region. With Australia’s future economic and…
What does it look like for Australia to be an Effective Partner in Combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
Australia can be a global leader in sustainable fisheries management, including maritime domain awareness (MDA), monitoring, control and surveillance…
South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Emerging US-Japan-Philippines Trilateral
This paper argues that pursuing cooperation around shared legal norms and ideas to advance maritime security in the South China Sea will be a more…
Curated Analyses
Submitted policy briefs and opinion editorials, and curated analytical pieces from various sources.
February 13, 2024
Assessing Indonesia’s potential presidents’ South China Sea strategies
The South China Sea strategy of Indonesia's presidential candidates became a focal topic in a…
January 18, 2024
Muscle and mediation set to continue in the South China Sea
In 2023, tensions between the Philippines and China heightened, marked by hostile encounters in the…
January 2, 2024
Marcos’ new code of conduct for the South China Sea is a non-starter
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is seeking to establish a separate code of conduct with…
December 6, 2023
Anchoring the U.S.-Philippines Alliance
The U.S.- Philippine Alliance has advanced significantly over the past two years. The period of…
November 27, 2023
What exactly is Australia’s strategy of denial meant to do?
The 2023 defence strategic review has been broadly welcomed across the Australian strategic policy…