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In response to incidents of piracy against Japanese ships and to secure Japanese shipping interests in the region, the Japanese government has taken several courses of action, largely focusing on regional cooperation. New initiatives and technologies have have been used to tackle piracy, and there has been an increase in the use of mercenary forces as well.
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The purpose of OPK was to maintain maritime order and prevent armed conflict at sea. The Japan Coast Guard would practice and conduct joint maneuvers with the militaries and coast guards of Southeast Asian nations in order to better secure freedom of navigation and combatting piracy and terrorism. The OPK initiative met resistance from Southeast Asian nations, however. With its limited financial resources and competing priorities, Indonesia did not want to be burdened with the extra costs of participation, and both Indonesia and Malaysia were reluctant to have Japanese forces within their territorial waters. Currently, scaled-down versions of bilateral initiatives are enjoying better success as the Japanese government pushes regional cooperation.
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Ship owners can easily install units in hidden places on board the ship in order to track the position and cruising details of the vessel. Crew members can use a panic-button to send the ship owner and relevant authorities a distress signal in the case of a hijacking or piracy attempt. ShipLoc is meant to facilitate the search for a hijacked ship in order to prevent acts of terrorism, and to quickly recover both the stolen cargo and ship.
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Private military companies (PMCs) are currently filling in the gaps that governments have left open. Faced with the prospect of passing through "pirate territory" while carrying millions of dollars in cargo, private companies are looking to mercenaries to provide protection. Companies such as Trident and Satellite Protection Services have taken on anti-piracy duties in the South China Sea, even utilizing aircraft in order to protect shipping interests from piracy. The debate over the difference between pirates and mercenaries is still ongoing. Particularly in the international arena and especially in disputed territories as well as the high-seas, questions concerning the legal legitimacy of PMCs are still prevalent. Skeptics also question the profit-driven rationale behind such organizations, wondering if personal security could actually be insured when the mercenary's end motive is profit.
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"Dire Straits:
Competing Security Priorities in the South China Sea" |
Ocean Peacekeeping Force (OPK)