ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the maritime geography of Southeast Asia, the interests of Southeast Asian states in seabed mining and the regional frameworks that are relevant to seabed mining. It then explains why seabed mining has not been comprehensively regulated from a regional perspective and outlines future challenges in developing a regional regulatory approach to seabed mining. This chapter adopts a broad definition of waters that are relevant to Southeast Asia from a governance perspective that coincides with scientific conceptions of the ‘Indo-Pacific.’ Placing seabed mining on the agenda of regional frameworks risks highlighting regional tensions, particularly given China's dominance in seabed mining and its potential seabed mining activities in the South China Sea. The regional frameworks should also consider the implications of seabed mining taking place in areas beyond national jurisdiction in the Indo-Pacific region, which will have an impact on Southeast Asian waters under national jurisdiction.
