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Tanker Hijackings Add to Tensions in South China Sea Recent Tanker Hijackings Add to Rising Tensions in South China Sea
(about 9 hours later)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Add another problem to the rising tensions in the South China Sea this year: a mysterious spate of tanker hijackings since late April, as armed bands of men have boarded and commandeered the ships, siphoned their cargos of diesel and gasoline onto barges or other tankers, and fled into the night.KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Add another problem to the rising tensions in the South China Sea this year: a mysterious spate of tanker hijackings since late April, as armed bands of men have boarded and commandeered the ships, siphoned their cargos of diesel and gasoline onto barges or other tankers, and fled into the night.
Complicating matters is the fact that two of the hijackings took place near the heart of Malaysia’s offshore oil and gas production, in waters where China is making an increasingly forceful claim to sovereignty.Complicating matters is the fact that two of the hijackings took place near the heart of Malaysia’s offshore oil and gas production, in waters where China is making an increasingly forceful claim to sovereignty.
Interpol, intelligence agencies and military forces in the region are investigating the eight attacks — the most recent of which was last Friday — and are trying to figure out how to stop further ones, said Noel Choong, the head of the Asia office here of the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center.Interpol, intelligence agencies and military forces in the region are investigating the eight attacks — the most recent of which was last Friday — and are trying to figure out how to stop further ones, said Noel Choong, the head of the Asia office here of the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center.
One goal of the investigation is to determine whether the diesel fuel and gasoline are being sold for profit by criminals or are being used to finance political activities, possibly even terrorism.One goal of the investigation is to determine whether the diesel fuel and gasoline are being sold for profit by criminals or are being used to finance political activities, possibly even terrorism.
In one incident in late May, “they were wearing ninja-type clothes, black, so they looked professional,” Mr. Choong said.In one incident in late May, “they were wearing ninja-type clothes, black, so they looked professional,” Mr. Choong said.
In contrast to the military assault rifles sometimes carried by pirates off Somalia and Nigeria, the pirates in the South China Sea have tended to be armed with handguns or even machetes. No one is known to have been killed in any of the hijackings, but three tanker crew members were abducted in one of the incidents and have not been seen since. In contrast to the military assault rifles sometimes carried by pirates off Somalia and Nigeria, the pirates in the South China Sea have tended to be armed with handguns or even machetes. No one is known to have been killed in any of the hijackings, but three tanker crew members were abducted in one of the episodes and have not been seen since.
The hijackings raise geopolitical issues. Seven have taken place close to Malaysia and one close to the Anambas Islands of Indonesia. But two of the hijackings close to Malaysia occurred in waters near James Shoal, a disputed, submerged reef near the north coast of Malaysian Borneo.The hijackings raise geopolitical issues. Seven have taken place close to Malaysia and one close to the Anambas Islands of Indonesia. But two of the hijackings close to Malaysia occurred in waters near James Shoal, a disputed, submerged reef near the north coast of Malaysian Borneo.
Malaysia has had commercial activities there for many years, and it is a center of the country’s extensive offshore oil and gas industry. Oil and gas revenues cover nearly half of the Malaysian government’s budget.Malaysia has had commercial activities there for many years, and it is a center of the country’s extensive offshore oil and gas industry. Oil and gas revenues cover nearly half of the Malaysian government’s budget.
But China has been increasingly assertive over the past several years in claiming that James Shoal lies inside its so-called nine-dash line, a huge expanse of the South China Sea that Beijing has been claiming with increasing boldness, particularly this year. A small flotilla of Chinese naval vessels went to James Shoal in January, and Chinese officers held an oath-swearing ceremony there to pledge that they would defend China’s sovereignty.But China has been increasingly assertive over the past several years in claiming that James Shoal lies inside its so-called nine-dash line, a huge expanse of the South China Sea that Beijing has been claiming with increasing boldness, particularly this year. A small flotilla of Chinese naval vessels went to James Shoal in January, and Chinese officers held an oath-swearing ceremony there to pledge that they would defend China’s sovereignty.
Malaysia glossed over the matter, saying that the Chinese vessels had stayed in international waters during their activities. Malaysia has tried to maintain a nearly neutral stance toward China within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but it could find the balancing act more difficult next year, when it assumes the rotating chairmanship of the association.Malaysia glossed over the matter, saying that the Chinese vessels had stayed in international waters during their activities. Malaysia has tried to maintain a nearly neutral stance toward China within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but it could find the balancing act more difficult next year, when it assumes the rotating chairmanship of the association.
The hijackings also come at a time of considerable nervousness about jihadist recruiting efforts in Malaysia, which is heavily Sunni Muslim. The Malaysian authorities have detained more than a dozen people in the past month, reportedly including a Malaysian naval officer, in an investigation into recruiting and other support activities on behalf of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the militant group that has seized control of a large part of northwestern Iraq.The hijackings also come at a time of considerable nervousness about jihadist recruiting efforts in Malaysia, which is heavily Sunni Muslim. The Malaysian authorities have detained more than a dozen people in the past month, reportedly including a Malaysian naval officer, in an investigation into recruiting and other support activities on behalf of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the militant group that has seized control of a large part of northwestern Iraq.
The International Maritime Bureau, which is part of the International Chamber of Commerce and works closely with the United Nations on shipping issues, has been quietly tracking the hijacking problem and plans to issue a detailed report next week calling for further international attention to the problem, Mr. Choong said. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has said that it is trying to solve the crimes and increase security at sea.The International Maritime Bureau, which is part of the International Chamber of Commerce and works closely with the United Nations on shipping issues, has been quietly tracking the hijacking problem and plans to issue a detailed report next week calling for further international attention to the problem, Mr. Choong said. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has said that it is trying to solve the crimes and increase security at sea.
Cmdr. William J. Marks, a spokesman for the United States Navy’s Seventh Fleet, said that the fleet had not received a request for antipiracy help in more than two years, but generally worked closely with countries in the region, including conducting a joint exercise last year with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Cmdr. William J. Marks, a spokesman for the United States Navy’s Seventh Fleet, said the fleet had not received a request for antipiracy help in more than two years, but generally worked closely with countries in the region, including conducting a joint exercise last year with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
In a typical year, one tanker, or even none, is hijacked in the South China Sea or the adjacent Strait of Malacca. Freighters and pleasure boats are sometimes stopped and their crews and passengers robbed and, on rare occasions, kidnapped. From $1 million to $2 million worth of fuel has been stolen from each of six tankers that have lost part or all of their cargos in the South China Sea since mid-April. In a typical year, one tanker is hijacked in the South China Sea or the adjacent Strait of Malacca, or none at all. Freighters and pleasure boats are sometimes stopped and their crews and passengers robbed and, on rare occasions, kidnapped. From $1 million to $2 million worth of fuel has been stolen from each of six tankers that have lost part or all of their cargos in the South China Sea since mid-April.
Pirates briefly seized two other tankers but did not try to steal their cargos after discovering that they were carrying chemicals that were not readily salable. One of the tankers was carrying methanol, used in making paints and plastics, and the other was carrying bitumen, a thick fuel used for firing boilers.Pirates briefly seized two other tankers but did not try to steal their cargos after discovering that they were carrying chemicals that were not readily salable. One of the tankers was carrying methanol, used in making paints and plastics, and the other was carrying bitumen, a thick fuel used for firing boilers.
Mr. Choong declined to identify publicly the owners of the eight tankers, except to say that one was owned by a global oil company and most of the rest were owned by companies in Singapore. None of the tankers were large vessels that carry crude oil, which would take a long time to siphon into another ship and would be harder to resell.Mr. Choong declined to identify publicly the owners of the eight tankers, except to say that one was owned by a global oil company and most of the rest were owned by companies in Singapore. None of the tankers were large vessels that carry crude oil, which would take a long time to siphon into another ship and would be harder to resell.
One of the biggest worries, Mr. Choong said, is that if tankers develop a reputation as being profitable, easy targets to attack, then piracy could spread, much as it did off the coast of Somalia over the last several years.One of the biggest worries, Mr. Choong said, is that if tankers develop a reputation as being profitable, easy targets to attack, then piracy could spread, much as it did off the coast of Somalia over the last several years.
Piracy off the Somali coast dropped steeply after shipping companies began hiring armed guards and putting them aboard vessels. But Indonesia and Malaysia have longstanding bans on any armed private guards aboard ships, reserving the right to bear weapons for their own military and police.Piracy off the Somali coast dropped steeply after shipping companies began hiring armed guards and putting them aboard vessels. But Indonesia and Malaysia have longstanding bans on any armed private guards aboard ships, reserving the right to bear weapons for their own military and police.
“We don’t want it to get out of control,” Mr. Choong said.“We don’t want it to get out of control,” Mr. Choong said.