MARITIME MULTILATERALISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: EXPANDING SECURITY COMPLEX
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v3.i1.2022.5056Abstract [English]
Southeast Asia is essentially a maritime region. The maritime space and strategic sea-lanes striding the region supports the continued existence of these nations. In recent times, the maritime space of this region, which is section of the Indo-Pacific stretch, became the epicenter of geo-strategic matrices. It is increasingly believed that “…the history of the 21st century will be written in Asia”. And ASEAN has become the most conducive stage where great power rivalries and competition for influence are being played out. In this context, the sea at large provides the appropriate theater in balancing act for various flags considering its expediency to project power. The Southeast Asian maritime domain is one such volatile theater confronting challenges both from the traditional means as well as from transnational sources. Notwithstanding the otherwise improving relations among ASEAN members and their deepening cooperation in various fields, there are impending maritime disputes between them which augments possibility of upsetting the future stability of the region. Moreover, with the economic prosperity and surplus wealth, the Southeast Asian countries and other major Asian players have strengthened their navies in the last decades, thereby seen actively visible in ASEAN waters. The presence of strong impervious extra-regional navies adds to the precariousness at sea.
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