Speaker: Ms Jane Chan, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University

1. Ponder the Improbable
MARITIME COOPERATION IN
THE INDIAN OCEAN
Jane Chan
Research Fellow & Coordinator
Maritime Security Programme
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

2. Ponder the Improbable
SCOPE OF PRESENTATION
o STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
o MARSEC CHALLENGES
o PROSPECT FOR COOOPERATION/
ENHANCE COOPERATION

3. Ponder the Improbable
Strategic Overview
• Indo-pacific - a new geographical construct
• Focus of intensifying strategic and political attention
• Economic connectivity across the Indo-pacific region depends
largely on maritime links
• Reflecting the wider Asia’s maritime geography and the sea’s
enduring quality as a maneuver space
• Potential vulnerability leading the major maritime states to
extend their maritime strategic horizons

4. Ponder the Improbable
Marsec Challenges
• Threats to maritime security are very evident in
the IOR
• risks of interstate conflict
• NTS / transboundary security concerns
• Lack of a common threat perception and more
importantly, differing priorities

5. Ponder the Improbable
Prospect for Cooperation/ Enhance
Cooperation
• Measures to deal with these threats offer a good vehicle for
engaging regional partners, so that not only will such
cooperation and collaboration help mitigate the impact, it will
engender trust and confidence.
• Ensuring Good Order at Sea
–Plenty of pragmatic proposals
–E.g. Information Sharing
• Existing Regional Institutions – e.g. IORA and IONS

6. Ponder the Improbable
 Major barrriers
• Political sensitivities
• Lack of common interests and priorities
• Lack of capacity and resources
 East Asian Regionalism
Can similar arrangement work in IOR?
Potential for different configuration
E.g. IOR-Plus or IOR- Minus
Prospect for Cooperation/ Enhance
Cooperation

7. Ponder the Improbable
Thank You