ASEAN cooperation in maritime law enforcement: Current state and policy recommendations for development

Tóm tắt

Maritime domains play a vital role in the security and economic development of Southeast Asia. However, the region is facing multiple maritime security challenges, including sovereignty disputes, villegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. irregular migration, and transnational crime. In 2025, maritime threats in Southeast Asia grew increasingly complex and showed an upward trend, with the sharp rise in piracy and armed robbery incidents, particularly in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. At the same time, tensions in the East Sea have complicated maritime law enforcement efforts due to overlapping claims and insufficient coordination among the parties concerned. In this context, strengthening cooperation among the maritime law enforcement forces of Southeast Asian countries has become essential to maintaining peace, stability, and regional development. ASEAN has implemented various initiatives to promote cooperation; however, the effectiveness of these efforts remains limited and requires further enhancement. This article examines the current state of ASEAN cooperation in maritime law enforcement and proposes policy recommendations for the Association in the coming period to further advance regional cooperation in this field.