Options to combat maritime piracy in Southeast Asia

Modern maritime piracy has become one of the major threats to safety at sea. How to combat maritime piracy in Southeast Asia effectively is the major concern of this contribution. It is argued that some form of government cooperation involving most of the governments of the Southeast Asian region is the best way to combat maritime piracy, although it is not an easy task due to various political, economical, and historical reasons. A unilateral and expedient arrangement by one or a few governments to combat maritime piracy may be convenient but may also encounter resistance or raise suspicion from other governments.