SEA maritime build-up accelerates, raising risks in disputed seas

Southeast Asian nations are prioritising spending on their navies and coastguards amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. Annual defense spending in Southeast Asia is projected to reach $52 billion by 2020, from an expected $42 billion this year. The 10 nations of Southeast Asia are expected to spend $58 billion on new military kit over the next five years, with naval procurement comprising a large chunk. Much of this equipment is likely to be used in and around the South China Sea, where Beijing’s creation of artificial islands has alarmed some Asian countries and stoked tension between China’s navy and the U.S. air force. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims.

World maritime