Even though there have been recent efforts in seeking multilateral maritime cooperation within the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) framework, in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole a mutually held maritime strategy which includes military aspects has not been forthcoming, despite deep regional dependence on the safety of shipping and freedom of navigation.
Traditionally, regional states have relied on American maritime protection, with their own contribution being mainly host nation support, access rights, and combined exercises with the US forces within the framework of bilateral-arrangements. This maritime cooperation scheme should be promoted on a burden-sharing basis retaining the US as the key strategic player.
The regional states need to be able to protect their areas of responsibility and to support a US forward presence in recognition of being a part of the scheme. The existing bilateral security arrangements with the US can be a basis to shape a new regional maritime cooperation scheme because it is easier to evolve as spokes which form the scheme together with the US hub. It is sincerely hoped that this paper will help trigger a lively discussion on how to materialise a regional SLOC security cooperation scheme in the Asia-Pacific region.
ENDNOTES
1 Makoto Yamamoto, ‘Sealanes in the Asia-Pacific region today and their Vulnerabilities’ (paper presented to the 11th International Conference on SLOC Studies, 1997, p. 6). Much of the discussion below is drawn from his categorisation.
2 See Sam Bateman, Report of the Fourth Meeting of the CSCAP Maritime Cooperation Working Group in Sam Bateman (ed.), Shipping and Regional Security (Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, The Australian National University, Canberra) p. 103.
3 James A. Nockels, Defense Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, in Ralph A. Cossa (ed.), The New Pacific Sacurity Environment: Challenges and Opportunities (National Defense University Press, Washington, D. C. ) p. 136.
4 See Hirotaro Hayashi, ‘History of WPNS’ (paper presented to the 11th International Conference on SLOC Studies, 1997).
5 KJ-shuttle Documents, http://www.glocomnet.or.jp/okazaki-inst/
6 The Secretary of Defense, The United States Security Strategy for the East Asia-Pacific Region 1998 (The Department of Defense, Washington, D. C. ) p. 10.
7 See Admiral Jay L. Johnson, USN, Forward... from the Sea, the Navy Operational Concept (The Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D. C., 1997).
8 Stanley B. Weeks, ‘Law and Order at Sea: Pacific Cooperation in Dealing with Piracy, Drugs, and Illegal Migration’, Sam Bateman (ed.), Calming the Waters: Initiatives for Asia-Pacific Maritime Cooperation (Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, The Australian National University, Canberra, 1996) p. 51.
9 See Desmond Ball, Building Blocks for Regional Security: An Australian Perspective on CSBMs in the Asia / Pacific region (Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, National Australian University, Canberra, 1997) p. 49.
10 See Robyn Lim, ‘Australian's Stake in Asia Pacific Regional Security', Peter King and Yoichi Kibita (eds), Peace Building in Asia Pacific Region, the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific, and the Public Affairs Research Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 1998, p. 84.
