Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
AMTI aims to promote transparency in the Indo-Pacific to dissuade assertive behavior and conflict and generate opportunities for cooperation and confidence building
The maritime environment in East Asia contains both promise and peril. The Indo-Pacific region is host to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes, facilitates huge volumes of regional trade, and boasts abundant natural resources. Competing territorial claims, incidents between neighboring countries, and increasing militarization, however, raise the possibility that an isolated event at sea could become a geopolitical catastrophe. This is all occurring against a backdrop of relative opaqueness. Geography makes it difficult to monitor events as they occur, and there is no public, reliable authority for information on maritime developments.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative seeks to change this. AMTI was conceived of and designed by CSIS. It is an interactive, regularly-updated source for information, analysis, and policy exchange on maritime security issues in Asia. AMTI aims to promote transparency in the Indo-Pacific to dissuade assertive behavior and conflict and generate opportunities for cooperation and confidence building. Because AMTI aims to provide an objective platform for exchange, AMTI and CSIS take no position on territorial or maritime claims.
AMTI Leadership

All Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Content
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U.S. Allies and Partners Under the Trump Administration
Event — February 18, 2025
China Coast Guard Patrols in 2024: An Exercise in Futility?
Commentary — February 6, 2025
China and Vietnam Are Driving Reef Destruction in the South China Sea
Chart by Harrison Prétat, Monica Sato, and Gregory B. Poling — January 30, 2025
Southeast Asia Radio’s Third Annual Holiday Special
Podcast Episode by Gregory B. Poling, Andreyka Natalegawa, Japhet Quitzon, Lauren Mai, and Monica Sato — December 19, 2024

Behind the Iron Curtain: An Update on Hainan's Maritime Militia
Commentary — December 12, 2024
A New Normal for the China Coast Guard at Kinmen and Matsu
Commentary — December 6, 2024
How Many Runways is Vietnam Building in the Spratly Islands?
Commentary — October 30, 2024
Seismic Strife: China and Indonesia Clash Over Natuna Survey
Commentary — October 28, 2024
Energy Security and the U.S.-Philippine Alliance
Brief by Harrison Prétat, Yasir Atalan, Gregory B. Poling, and Benjamin Jensen — October 21, 2024
A Well-Oiled Machine: Chinese Patrols at Luconia Shoals
Commentary — October 1, 2024