The current problem of illegal migration in the Asia Pacific region, particularly by maritime routes, is growing due to the recent economic crisis (particularly in Indonesia) -- although it still pales in comparison with the previous (1970s/1980s) migration of over a million “boat people” refugees from Vietnam. There has been an increase in recent years in longer range smuggling by sea, from the Middle East to Western Australia, and from Chinese coastal provinces to Japan and as far as Canada and the United States. The nature of such smuggling has also changed, to involve syndicates on Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan and Japan using large freighters.

　

　　In 1997, the UN estimated that migrant smuggling worldwide involves 4 million people and $7 Billion annually.²⁸ Illegal migration facilitated by organized alien smuggling networks and corrupt officials continues to rise, often subjecting the migrants to dangerous or even deadly transit conditions. In the last year, there have been several major incidents where would-be illegal Chinese immigrants were found dead inside cargo containers -- three in Seattle in January 2000 and 58 in the UK in June 2000. The US Government estimates that 30,000 to 40,000 Chinese were smuggled into the U.S. in 1999, many moving by ships to offshore transfer locations or to bordering countries. An identified Chinese gang was responsible for the maritime smuggling of hundreds of illegal immigrants from Fujian Province in China on a ship which ran aground off New York in 1993. A related problem, separately categorized, but closely related, is trafficking in human beings -- who are placed in situations of abuse and exploitation. According to the U.S. Government, an estimated 225,000 women and children from Southeast Asia were trafficked across international borders in 1997, one-third of the worldwide total. Here also, a significant number goes by sea, with the destinations usually more wealthy countries. Recent news reports in the Asia-Pacific region noted that over 1,200 illegal immigrants on boats were picked up in a six-month period by Australian maritime authorities, while Malaysia Navy forces fired on an Indonesian trawler with 40 illegal immigrants and another Malaysian Navy patrol intercepted a ferry with 15 illegal Filipino immigrants.²⁹

　

　　In the international legal context, the UN at the end of 2000 adopted a new UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, with a protocol against trafficking in persons. States may exercise jurisdiction over ships suspected of human smuggling if they infringe immigration laws for which their contiguous zone has been established or if they enter the territorial sea. The IMO has outlined guidelines for cooperation among states in its 1998 Circular 896, “Interim Measures for the Combating of Unsafe Practices Associated With the Trafficking or Transport of Migrants by Sea.”³⁰

　

　　Although regional police, customs, and immigration authorities will likely continue to have the lead in dealing with illegal migration (and need to ensure close regional cooperation), regional militaries can also share intelligence on suspicious ship sightings and if required supplement civil maritime agencies (where they exist) in searching suspicious vessels. Navies and maritime law enforcement agencies can also share experience and training in countering illegal migration, by sea--both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy unfortunately have much experience with this problem.