THE POTENTIAL SOURCE OF CONFLICT IN ASEAN SEAWATER

Abstract

ASEAN Community 2015 was formed with spirit to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN member countries in three main pillars; which one of them is ASEAN Political—Security Community (APSC). In ASEAN 2025 blue print, it is stated that this pillar aims to create ASEAN as stable and peaceful region. This paper addresses the potential source of conflict in regard to maritime security in ASEAN sea water which will cost a threat to pillar two ASEAN community. To achieve it aims, this paper observes bilateral dispute between ASEAN member countries related to IUU Fishing and the South China Sea (SCS) dispute considering this dispute involves 6 ASEAN members. The SCS has long been arena of dispute among some states which resulted into the strengthening of military capacity of those countries. This phenomenon will then a source of problem for ASEAN goal in the future especially those related to pillar two. Apart form that, IUU Fishing is also a trending topic in ASEAN region. This paper employs Bueger and Edmund maritime security concept in order to identify maritime security threat in above indicated sea. This paper found that some serious maritime challenges exist in ASEAN seawater which will threaten the ASEAN community goal.