Piracy incidents double across Asia: report
The number of armed pirates reported in the Singapore Strait in the first half of the year rose to 16 - the highest level in the last five years, and doubling compared to that in the same period last year.
Illustrative image (Photo: http://www.worldpronews.com/)Singapore (VNA) - The number of armed pirates reported in the Singapore Strait in the first half of the year rose to 16 - the highest level in the last five years, and doubling compared to that in the same period last year.
According to a half-yearly report announced by the information centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) mechanism, the increase in piracy and armed robberies was recorded across Asian waters in the period, with a total of 51 reported incidents, compared to 28 in the same period of 2019.
ReCAAP's executive director Masafumi Kuroki said the spike in cases was worrying, adding that “small crimes, if not addressed, can embolden criminals to commit more serious acts”.
According to the report, popular items to steal include scrap metal, engine parts, communication equipment from the ship's bridge and personal belongings from the crew.
ReCAAP has not been able to identify the cause of the increase in robberies in this area. It said it is necessary to increase patrol boats for enhanced surveillance in the area.
The report was collated from agencies in charge of this issue of 20 ReCAAP member countries, including Singapore, India, the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the US.
Recently, Singapore has made various efforts to respond to piracy, including restructuring the maritime security task force. In January, the Singapore Navy also held a meeting of the Malacca Straits Patrol Joint Coordinating Committee with representatives of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand./.
You should also see
Vietnam attends international security meeting in Russia
A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Public Security General To Lam is attending the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in Russia’s St. Petersburg city from April 23-25.
See more
World
Laos speeds up granting licences to foreign workers
Laos's Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare plans to issue visas to illegal foreign workers and extend permits to legal ones so that they can continue to work in the country.
World
Argentinian scholar praises Vietnam’s April 30, 1975 victory
The complete reunification of Vietnam on April 30, 1975 was an extremely significant event in the history of the country and the world, opined a scholar from the Institute for International Relations at the National University of La Plata, Argentina.
World
Malaysia tackles food security challenges
Empowering local communities in the agriculture sector to attract young people to this field is one of the measures taken by Malaysia to address labour shortage while also contributing to tackling challenges in food security.
World
Danger warning issued for Thailand’s Bangkok as extreme heat bites
Thai authorities on April 24 issued an extreme heat warning for Bangkok, urging people to stay indoors for their safety as temperatures soared.
World
Schools in Philippines go online amid extreme heat
Record heat in the Philippines in April has forced schools to send children home for online classes.
