Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines launch joint sea force

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) - Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines launched joint maritime patrols on Monday, local media reported.

The development comes after an increase in terrorist activity in the waters between the three island states, as militants try to reach a Daesh-linked insurgency in the southern Philippines.

“I hope this inauguration will be the beginning and historic momentum for the three countries in increasing the quantity and quality of future defense cooperation to realize the stability in the region,” Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said, according to detik.com.

The ceremony took place aboard Suharso warship in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan.

The new level of cooperation was sparked by the kidnapping of fishermen and ship crews over the last two years by Abu Sayyaf militants based in the islands of the Sulu Sea.

However, Ryacudu said the threat had moved beyond simple terrorism and piracy and that Daesh was now trying to establish territory in southeast Asia.

“Before the big plan is done, we must prevent it,” he said.

Ryacudu called on the Association of South East Asian Nations to promote counter-terrorism. “The dynamic and wider scope of terrorism need transnational and coordinated management,” the minister said.

The Philippines is currently trying to retake Marawi City from pro-Daesh fighters that have attempted to establish a permanent base on the southern island of Mindanao.

There are concerns that southeast Asian fighters will return home as Daesh is increasingly squeezed in Iraq and Syria.