23 May 2022

Although terrorist and insurgency groups that are active in Asia are not presently focused on attacking assets of the maritime sector, changes with capabilities and intentions could create a new and perilous paradigm.  

By Thomas Timlen, South-east Asia Analyst

Terrorist and insurgency groups in Asia remain active. At times, the tactics employed skew the respective distinctions. As an example, one of the most notorious of these groups, Abu Sayyaf (ASG) operating in the southern Philippines, sought to establish an autonomous Muslim state. Joined by other like-minded militants including the Maute Group, they laid siege to Marawi for several months in 2017, battling the Philippine armed forces until they were pushed back to their jungle strongholds along the Sulu Archipelago. Subsequently the ASG began to employ terrorist tactics that included the murder of hostages and more recently the deployment of suicide bombers at police and military posts, markets and places of worship, all resulting in civilian casualties.

It could be argued that after the siege of Marawi the ASG returned to its terrorist roots, as it was known to kidnap Red Cross personnel and other civilians on land as well as taking hostages from yachts from 2009 to 2015 before turning its attention to the crew of several tugs, fishing trawlers and two cargo vessels beginning in 2016.

In contrast with other regions where the merchant fleet can suffer from collateral damage resulting from insurgencies, vessels operating in Asia are less vulnerable to such consequences. Even the most notorious group in Asia, the ASG, only managed to kidnap crew from one bulk carrier, one general cargo ship and one heavy lift vessel in the years 2016 and 2017, after which only crew from fishing trawlers with low speed and freeboard were kidnapped. ASG kidnappings of crew from tugs operating in the Sulu and Celebes Seas was also restricted to 2016 and 2017.

While a wide range of insurgency and terrorist groups continue to operate throughout the region, with the exception of attacks on domestic ferries and ships plying inland waterways, common to all is the absence of interest in targeting maritime assets, whether they be port facilities or merchant vessels. Nonetheless, monitoring the activities of these groups remains essential in order to track both their intentions and capabilities. This contributes towards effective planning not only for vessel operations but also with respect to arrangements relating to crew changes, ensuring that such movements do not put personnel in harm’s way.

Updates on terrorist and insurgency activities are available from every threat assessment available on the MaRisk, PortRisk and LandRisk systems. The upcoming Risk Intelligence monthly report to be published in June will feature a focus article on terrorist and insurgency activity in Asia. This topic was also addressed during the 10 May 2022 webinar “Asia shipping security update: Insurgents and terrorists” which is now available as video on demand.

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Throughout Risk Intelligence’s webinar recording, you will learn more about the present status of the terrorist and insurgency groups and the consequences for vessels and seafarers in the region.