Assessing the threat of maritime terrorism: issues for the Asia-Pacific region

This article provides a critical assessment of the contemporary threat of maritime terrorism in the Asia-Pacific region. It addresses the operational dimensions of the threat to ships and port infrastructure, and considers the effectiveness of the international and regional measures that have been introduced in recent years to deal with this threat. Based on a proposition that that there has been rather too much emphasis on highly remote and speculative “doomsday” scenarios, the article supports the need for balance and equity in addressing the risks of maritime terrorism. It identifies types of terrorist attack that might be assessed as more credible, as well as some that might be considered less credible.