The severity of maritime piracy is growing in contemporary Southeast Asia. The International Maritime Bureau reports a significant increase in the violence toward merchant crews and a pattern indicating a disproportionate number of attacks upon oil tankers. This trend suggests and increased possibility of a major oil spill in the region as a result of piracy. Should such a spill occur, the governments of Southeast Asia may petition wealthier countries such as the United State to assist them in combating piracy. Such a request will force the United States to undertake a mission for which it is poorly prepared. The alternative would be the Chinese provision of assistance, which would impose a significant threat upon the stability of the region. Prior to the occurrence of an event that might lead to such a scenario, the United States should undertake efforts to combat piracy short of the devotion of significant military assets. Theses should include the sponsorship of anti- piracy training missions to the region and the fostering of improved diplomacy among concerned nations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/13672 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Donald, Elliott J. |
| Contributors | Mary P. Callahan. |
| Publisher | Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School |
| Source Sets | Naval Postgraduate School |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Approved for public release, distribution unlimited. |
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