No direct wars in Asean, but strings of disasters portend a problematic region still — Phar Kim Beng
SEPTEMBER 10 — Asean is not at war all across the region, invariably, between member states.This...
On September 10, Asean remains peaceful, with no wars between its member states since 1979. However, the region faces a different kind of insecurity. A series of disasters and emergencies have struck maritime Southeast Asia in recent days, including a fiery maritime incident near Palawan, volcanic eruptions at Anak Krakatau, forest and peatland fires, and transboundary haze.
These events, although not wars, pose significant threats to human security and daily life in the region. The maritime incident near Palawan highlights the region's dependence on maritime transportation, as ferries and other vessels are crucial for connecting islands, communities, and economies. Similarly, volcanic eruptions at Anak Krakatau underscore the vulnerability of modern Southeast Asia to geological instability, as volcanic ash can disrupt aviation, maritime movements, tourism, and transportation networks.
The haze caused by forest and peatland fires further demonstrates the ecological interdependence of Asean nations, as smoke from fires in one country can have devastating impacts on neighboring countries. This string of disasters illustrates the delicate nature of the region and the need for Asean to address the risks posed by natural disasters, environmental degradation, industrial accidents, extreme weather, and geological instability.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
