Maritime Security in the East Asia and Pacific Region

Our maritime security and counterterrorism strategies are complementary. Maritime security addresses unlawful activities in the maritime domain, of which terrorism is just one of many. Counterterrorism focuses on preventing terrorists from harming people, damaging infrastructure, and using the maritime domain to support its terrorist operations.

The United States seeks to develop cooperative mechanisms to enhance the safety, security, and environmental protection of strategic waterways. These mechanisms are developed by implementing various interagency programs that deal with piracy, illegal migration, trafficking in persons, transnational crime, environmental protection, counternarcotics, and counterterrorism.

In the East Asia and Pacific region (EAP), the U.S. works with like-minded countries and those littoral states responsible for safeguarding these waters. Our common goal is, bilaterally and multilaterally, to develop a partnership of willing nations to enhance the overall capabilities and capacities to identify, monitor, and respond to maritime threats consistent with legal authorities and frameworks.

The National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS) and the U.S. Department of State

Signed by President Bush in September 2005, the NSMS represents a collaborative interagency effort to promote global economic stability and protect legitimate activities, while preventing hostile or illegal acts within the maritime domain. A key element of the NSMS, the State Department's International Outreach and Coordination Strategy to Enhance Maritime Security supports the development of cooperative mechanisms and regional maritime security regimes.

Maritime Security Strategy in the EAP Context

In areas such as the Malacca Straits, the U.S. works with global partners to ensure recipient and user-state donor coordination based on the burden sharing of resources, the interoperability of our partners' activities, the sustainability of our joint strategies, and the prevention of redundancy among other maritime security efforts. Moreover, each of these four aims must match both the priorities and needs of recipient states.

The U.S. works with partners on planning, capacity building, information sharing, International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code implementation, technical assistance, training and exercises, private sector outreach, maritime environmental stewardship, and counterterrorism:

•  Responsible States – littorals and those countries whose sovereign territory encompasses strategic waterways;
•  User States – international community, shipping countries, and other potential assistance providers;
•  Multilateral Organizations – International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other related UN agencies, World Customs Organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC); and
•  Private Sector Partners – the shipping industry, including passenger and cargo carriers, seafarers, and other interested parties.

Developing Cooperative Mechanisms

The IMO convened a September 2005 meeting in Indonesia to enhance the safety, security, and environmental protection of the Malacca Straits. The littoral states agreed to cooperate with user states on important maritime security issues. A September 2006 meeting in Malaysia will serve as a forum for littoral and user-state coordination of maritime security assistance. Throughout this process, user-state donor assistance efforts recognize the littorals' sovereignty and territorial integrity of their waterways and the leadership role over their security.

Working under the IMO framework, the Alameda Conference in February 2006 helped coordinate potential donor contributions in maritime security efforts in the Malacca Straits. Sponsored by the State Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, the conference was attended by the U.S. Pacific Command, like-minded user states, the International Maritime Bureau, private sector representatives, and other observers. Through a desire not to create new multilateral fora, the U.S. has worked with existing regional institutions to increase awareness of the problem, press for progress, and exchange views on maritime security.