Regional Piracy Surge Highlights Urgent Need For Security In South China Sea Security
By INS Contributors KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A sharp rise in piracy and armed robbery across Asian waters in early 2025 has renewed calls for Malaysia and its neighbours to overhaul regional maritime security frameworks, strengthen surveillance, and prioritise economic development in vulnerable coastal areas. R. Paneir Selvam, the Principal Consultant at Arunachala Research & Consultancy (ARRESCON), a think tank specialising on strategic national and geo-political matters, said the region can no longer treat maritime security as strictly a defence issue. Instead, it must be understood as central to national wealth, supply chain stability and long-term economic resilience. Speaking to reporters, Paneir said the recent spike in maritime crime reflects “a dangerous convergence of economic pressure, operational gaps and the exploitation of chokepoints across the region’s busiest waters.” He added that securing the South China Sea is essential not only for protecting s...