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 content by Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
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The Evolving Nature of Southeast Asia’s Maritime Security Threats
Commentary — November 16, 2022
The Ebb and Flow of Beijing’s South China Sea Militia
Commentary — November 9, 2022
Marcos Jr. and ASEAN: Minilateralism in the South China Sea
Commentary — October 18, 2022
ASEAN, China, and the COC negotiation: How relevant is UNCLOS?
Commentary — September 30, 2022
China Installs A New Hydrocarbon Platform in the East China Sea
Commentary — September 29, 2022
The East China Sea: Ten Years After the Senkaku Nationalization Crisis
Commentary — September 29, 2022
Cracking Down on Illegal Chinese Fishing in North Korean Waters
Blog Post — September 12, 2022
More Island Upgrades Across the South China Sea
Commentary — July 8, 2022
Hopes and fears as China deep dives into the Pacific
Commentary — June 23, 2022
Brahmos in the Philippines and Quad Potential
Commentary — June 21, 2022