ABSTRACT
The rising sea levels associated with global warming could also contribute to surges in the movement of displaced populations and related transnational criminal activities such as people smuggling in the South East Asian region and the South China Sea.5 The proliferation of transnational criminal activities at sea, such as people smuggling and illegal fishing, will place additional strain on the law enforcement resources of the region.6 The increased frequency and severity of weather related disasters linked to climate change is likely to lead to loss of dwellings and the spread of disease in the South East Asian region and the need for augmented disaster relief services.7 In the face of such severe weather events the high volumes of shipping transiting the region may become more vulnerable to accidents at sea and offshore energy installations may be more prone to damage and less able to provide reliable sources of energy.8 The first part of this chapter explores some of the likely impacts and consequences of climate change for the maritime security of South East Asia and the South China Sea.
