Maritime terrorism has emerged as a formidable threat in the world, targeting both civilian and naval vessels. The threat is compounded by the use of maritime vessels and shipping lanes by criminals who are often in league with terrorists. As the stakes are raised, the littoral states must innovate in order to counter the new maritime threats. Statistics show that about one-third of piracy cases happen in the waters surrounding the Southeast Asia region, prompting for the need for closer anti-piracy cooperation in combating the menace. Last year, the International Maritime Bureau recorded 37 pirate attacks in the Malacca Strait. The narrow 960km-long Straits of Malacca, bordered by Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, is used by about 50,000 ships a year, carrying a third of the world's trade and half its oil supplies. The potential problems posed by sea-borne terrorism are most severe in the Strait where a combination of traditional piracy and terrorist movements can combine to make maritime passage of the long, narrow waterway especially unsettling.
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