Japan mulls piracy pact with ASEAN

Japan mulls piracy pact with ASEAN

TOKYO (AFP): Japan is considering an antipiracy pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to allow it to join international patrols against pirates, a report said on Wednesday.

Under the pact, Tokyo hopes to patrol in the Strait of Malacca with ASEAN nations and also wants to use the antipiracy pact to combat drug smugglers and illegal immigrants, the Sankei Shimbun said.

Located between Malaysia and Indonesia, the Strait of Malacca is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes with 600 vessels a day and also the world's most pirate-infested channel. Tokyo does not have laws that allow Japanese maritime authorities to control piracy against non-Japanese vessels, the Sankei said.

Japanese ships have suffered 141 attacks in the past 11 years. The Japanese coast guard has held joint exercises with its Indian and Malaysian counterparts to cope with the growing piracy scourge.