A transnational problem

National borders in Southeast Asia have always been porous. Since adventurous seafarers from Borneo and other parts of Southeast Asia settled in this archipelago centuries ago, many people have ignored territorial boundaries and settled where they pleased. Poor naval patrols have abetted not only illegal migration but also piracy and other criminal activities. The South China Sea, which has some of the busiest commercial sea lanes, is a haven for pirates, smugglers and drug traffickers. Now Southeast Asia must deal with another problem: transnational kidnapping.

Philippine pirates, abetted by Malaysians, are believed to have snatched 20 foreigners and a Filipina from the resort island of Sipadan off Sabah in Malaysia last month. The foreigners were brought to Sulu and turned over to the Abu Sayyaf fundamentalist group, which reportedly wants the equivalent of $2.6 million as ransom for the captives. The Islamic extremists are holding another 27 hostages, most of them children, in Basilan. For this group of captives, the Abu Sayyaf is demanding the release of three Muslim terrorists jailed in the United States.

Despite the transnational nature of the crime, the Philippine government considers it an internal problem and has so far politely refused international offers of assistance to end the hostage crisis. Sovereignty has also been an issue in the conduct of joint patrols in the South China Sea. Cooperation may require overall supervision. Which country will take command? Will there be a pool of resources, and will equal sharing be required? Will the joint patrols aggravate problems arising from conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea? Are Southeast Asian nations planning to seek assistance from its dialogue partners in the ASEAN Regional Forum, including the United States? What does China have to say about such joint patrols in what it considers as Chinese territory?

There have been limited efforts to conduct joint patrols among some Southeast Asian nations. This hostage crisis should prod the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to consider wider cooperation in patrolling common waters. Transnational crimes require transnational methods of law enforcement.