You’ve probably heard of the South China Sea disputes – a major flashpoint involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and others. But the South China Sea isn’t the only maritime dispute in Asia. 

Today, we’re going to talk about four often-overlooked maritime flashpoints in South and Southeast Asia – and how they’re reshaping the geopolitical landscape today. 

In East Asia, various states are mostly fighting over who owns particular rocks in order to claim control of the surrounding ocean. Things are different in South and Southeast Asia. Besides the South China Sea, there are various waterways under contention, from open ocean to marshlands and rivers. Even settled maritime borders are becoming problems thanks to changing political circumstances on the water and on land.

But which of these maritime flashpoints are most likely to lead to an actual conflict? Let’s dive in.