The War Against International Terrorists in Southeast Asia

摘要

Southeast Asia has been identified as an important front in the ongoing war against terrorism. Southeast Asian governments, like governments elsewhere, have expressed support for the war against terrorism. The United States continues to make the war against terrorism its top priority and is focusing on Southeast Asia, opening what some call "a second front" in the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean, has enhanced cooperation against terrorism, strengthening border patrols, facilitating intelligence sharing, improving investigation methods and extradition laws. The region had recently faced many transnational challenges. In 2003, it saw the rapid impact of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. Then, lethal outbreaks of avian influenza hit several countries in the region. Regional authorities also battled forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which generated trans-boundary haze in parts of Southeast Asia. Most recently, the Indian Ocean Tsunami brought catastrophic human and physical devastation to many countries in the region.