Asia-Pacific Naval Directory 2019

The potential for maritime conflict in the region - and increasingly beyond - continues to increase with the growth of the Chinese Navy and the unpredictability of North Korea.

- Dr. Alix Valenti

There has been no shortage of news regarding security concerns in the Asia Pacific region as of late. In June, regional and international media reported that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, inspected a newly built submarine for the North Korean Navy. Late July and early August, North Korea resumed missile testing, firing three short-range missiles that landed in waters between North Korea and Japan. Tensions between foes and allies in the region are also on the rise, with South Korea and Japan resuming an old feud while China and the US continue their trade war and India and Pakistan argue over Kashmir.

The simmering tensions in the Asia Pacific have been concerning analysts the world over for some time, especially concerning North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes as well as Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOP) in contested waters such as the South China Sea. Coupled with nontraditional security threats such as piracy, illegal fishing and smuggling (whether drugs or people), these traditional threats have triggered a capability modernisation and procurement race in the region for the past few years. From patrol boats to high-end frigates, submarines and aircraft carriers, countries in the region are preparing their navies to tackle a wide variety of maritime threats. And today, this also includes cyber and space.

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