Monthly Intelligence Report December 2023

This month’s issue of the Monthly Intelligence Report covers incidents that took place between November 1 - 30, 2023, in three focus regions:

• West Africa

• Western Indian Ocean (including the Persian Gulf)

• South East Asia

Focus topic: Upcoming elections in Taiwan

This month, we are taking a look at the situation in Taiwan ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in January. After increasing tensions between Taiwan and China throughout 2023, the outcome of the elections is eagerly anticipated. We are looking at the potential impacts on cross-strait relations and on possible knock-on effects on maritime security in general and commercial shipping in particular throughout the region.

In addition, the report provides a brief update on the maritime implications of the war in Ukraine.

This month's risk and threat assessment

In the report's assessment, the main incidents are put into a broader context to highlight current threat levels and potential changes for maritime operations. Moreover, the report includes forecasts that cover the main concerns in the coming weeks.