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.
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…
Extended ‘Gray Zone’ Deterrence in the South China Sea
Strong military commitments by stronger allies to defend weaker partners is just one necessary component of extended deterrence to limited (gray…
Curated Analyses
Submitted policy briefs and opinion editorials, and curated analytical pieces from various sources.
August 14, 2023
The Philippines’ high-stakes options at Second Thomas Shoal
The Philippine Coast Guard’s highlighting of China’s harassment of its vessels near Second Thomas…
August 10, 2023
Australia must speak up against Beijing’s bullying of the Philippines
Last weekend, China’s coastguard and maritime militia carried out dangerous and aggressive…
August 10, 2023
Not just another naval exercise: Malabar’s vital messaging
US President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ‘A good navy is not a provocation to war. It is the…
August 9, 2023
South Korea’s role in Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness
In December 2022, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration released its “Strategy for a Free, Peaceful, and…
August 9, 2023
Australia needs an overarching maritime security strategy
Maritime security is a term that can mean almost anything. For many, it conjures images of…