In the second decade of the 21st century, the Philippine terrorist organisation the Abu Sayyaf, predominately domiciled in the southern Philippines, added a new dimension to their kidnap-for ransom enterprise – piracy. Accompanied by kidnap-for-ransom as opposed to traditional piracy which, in the main, this involved the robbery of an ocean-going vessel’s crew, cargo, or even the vessel itself. The Abu Sayyaf has been in existence in some form or another for over a quarter of a century in the greater Mindanao region of the southern Philippines. Originally formed with the intention of creating an independent Muslim State in the southern Philippines, it has degenerated into a number of sub-groups whose sole endeavour is now kidnap-for-profit, accompanied in many instances – if a ransom is not paid – by beheading of the kidnap victims. Flush with funds, the various groups were able to purchase small fast-moving vessels and embarked on piracy in the greater Sulu and Celebes Seas region. This publication focuses on the “explosion” of Abu Sayyaf piracy in the region in 2016 and 2017.

Spanning from the Caribbean to East Asia and covering almost 3,000 years of history, from Classical Antiquity to the eve of the twenty-first century, Persistent Piracy is an important contribution to the history of the state formation as well as the history of violence at sea.

"The chapters in this volume were presented in 2005 at an international conference hosted and organised by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences"--Acknowledgements.

David C. Kang tells an often overlooked story about East Asia's 'comprehensive security', arguing that American policy towards Asia should be based on economic and diplomatic initiatives rather than military strength.

Addresses the opportunities & challenges involved in the greater opening of Asia Pacific markets for U.S. companies. Outlines a number of steps that could be taken to enhance American trade & investment relations with the Asia Pacific region. Presents observations, findings & recommendations on trade imbalance, investment, tariffs, private & public anti-competitive practices, anti-trust laws, & the importance of high technology to U.S. competitiveness. Charts, tables, graphs, & references. Appendix includes an overview of U.S. trade relations with the Asia Pacific region, 1980-1995. Also includes a 22-page report by the U.S. Nat. Comm. for Pacific Economic Coop., Beyond the Trade Bill: The Coming Pacific AdjustmentÓ (Jan. 1988).

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A riveting, adrenaline-fueled tour of a vast, lawless, and rampantly criminal world that few have ever seen: the high seas. There are few remaining frontiers on our planet. But perhaps the wildest, and least understood, are the world's oceans: too big to police, and under no clear international authority, these immense regions of treacherous water play host to rampant criminality and exploitation. Traffickers and smugglers, pirates and mercenaries, wreck thieves and repo men, vigilante conservationists and elusive poachers, seabound abortion providers, clandestine oil-dumpers, shackled slaves and cast-adrift stowaways—drawing on five years of perilous and intrepid reporting, often hundreds of miles from shore, Ian Urbina introduces us to the inhabitants of this hidden world. Through their stories of astonishing courage and brutality, survival and tragedy, he uncovers a globe-spanning network of crime and exploitation that emanates from the fishing, oil, and shipping industries, and on which the world's economies rely. Both a gripping adventure story and a stunning exposé, this unique work of reportage brings fully into view for the first time the disturbing reality of a floating world that connects us all, a place where anyone can do anything because no one is watching.