PAs the center of gravity of global shipping continues to shift towards Asia, countries in the region are experiencing the largest growth per capita that resulted in more transport routes to be travelled. But this positive growth also brought a surge in piracy and armed robbery in the Southeast Asian waters. The International Maritime Bureau reported 23 actual or attempted attacks in Southeast Asian waters between January and March.In most cases pirates stole diesel and gas oil cargo. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) stated that Southeast Asia has become the new hub of piracy particularly in the Malacca Straits between Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Strait of Malacca is a key maritime highway linking Europe and the Middle East to Asia, and has long been a hunting ground for pirates. The International Maritime Bureau's Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Centre urged maritime agencies in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to bolster security measures to stop the piracy menace. After an international crackdown and many merchant vessels keeping armed guards on board, the number of pirate attacks dropped in the Horn of Africa shiftingto Southeast Asia as the world's new hotspot for pirate attacks.

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Likewise tensions have gone up this year in the South and East China Seas against China.Leaders agreed the Asia Pacific region holds great promise, with a vibrant economy and positive growth courses. Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said, "There was commonality that we wanted to de-escalate situations.""We recognise that progress is dependent on peace and stability.""And that conflict avoidance was a productive outcome." The question is how to move forward.The challenge lies in translating that into practical measures forconflict resolution.