ABSTRACT
Introduction The waters between Sabah, Malaysia, and the southern Philippines have a long history of maritime violence and piracy. Today, the waters of the Sulu Sea are still known as a piracy hot spot in Southeast Asia. This reputation is, however, not based on the number of attacks listed in international statistics published by organizations such as the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). Indeed, attacks on larger vessels rarely take place in the waters between Sabah and the southern Philippines, even though petty thefts from larger vessels occur in some ports located in the area. Most pirate attacks in these waters target small vessels – such as fishing boats, transport vessels and small passenger ships – and remain unreported. These attacks are often violent and are sometimes (at least partly) motivated by political rather than private agendas. Moreover, attacks on vessels are only one type of piratical activities prevalent in this area, with raids on towns and offshore businesses conducted by armed men traveling in boats a frequent security concern in Sabah.
