The Threat of Maritime Terrorism and Responses: The Zone of Threat and the Sea-Lanes in a Global Strategy Map

Abstract

Abstract There are various arguments over the threat of maritime terror and its damage assessment. It is mostly pointless to discuss the possibility of maritime terrorism. Terrorists think of an action that is beyond our imagination. If someone had given a warning about a terrorist attack on several symbolic buildings using hijacked aircraft before September 11, he should have been given the name of “the boy who cried wolf.” All that's required is an apt projection. It is important to step into the terrorists' shoes to anticipate every conceivable shocking event and project the damage that could be carried out in the world's busy sea-lanes or giant hub ports. Terrorism is not just a matter of peace and order. Responses to terrorism inevitably bring a change to the strategic structure of the world. In order not to bring about an unstable strategic structure, an anti-terror war is required to approach it from three directions of deterring terrorism, stabilizing the security environment and redressing the stage where terrorism will survive. To this end, as a new security concept, “Coexisting Security” is proposed as its basis. This paper touches on what sort of maritime terrorism could be carried out and how much damage would be wrought. And then, it introduces the linkages between the global strategic framework and the war on terror, and explores the fight against terrorism.