ABSTRACT
Southeast Asia is characterized by a salient maritime and archipelagic geographical profile of historical significance. The waterways of Southeast Asia have been historically prominent for various reasons of mercantile trade, cultural transmission, naval expeditions and challenges such as piracy. The states of Southeast Asia – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – have been characterized as archipelagic states as the seas have interwoven with the land territorial entities.
