Today, shipping is playing an increasingly vital role as primary transportation mode for world trade, and sea lanes serve as "main arteries" in the global distribution system. On the other hand, in accordance with a sharp increase of demand for food and energy, many countries are launching into exploitation of marine resources. However, the waters where heavily trafficked sea lanes run are fraught with danger from piracy and terror, whilst interstate conflicts have emerged in recent years on such issues involving sovereign rights over marine resources as delimitation of jurisdictional waters and territorial rights over mid-ocean islands. Thus, maritime security has now become more important than ever to realize sustainable use of the ocean.
Against this backdrop, we opine that extensive collection and adequate analysis and evaluation of maritime security information is indispensable to help develop policies on national security and defense. OPRF is issuing "OPRF MARINT Monthly Report" for the perusal of our readers interested in maritime security issues.

2011

December 2011

• Intelligence Summary in December 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 South China Sea-related Events
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• New U.S. national defense strategy and joint operational access concept (JOAC)

November 2011

• Intelligence Summary in November 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 South China Sea-related Events
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  　　Topic: America’s Recurrence in Asia-Pacific region - Comments on Enhancement
  　　　　　 and Strengthening of U.S.-Australian Alliance -
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
   Scenario of U.S. Military Conflicts with China and Asian Alliances
   - Viewed from reports of 2 U.S. think tanks -

October 2011

• Intelligence Summary in October 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 Maritime Boundaries
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• 2.1 Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships up to 3rd Quarter of 2011
  - Characteristics viewed in the IMB Report -
• 2.2 Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships up to 3rd Quarter of 2011
  - From ReCAAP Maritime Boundaries Report -

September 2011

• Intelligence Summary in September 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 South China Sea-related Events
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• U.S. Annual Report to Congress:
  “Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2011”

August 2011

• Intelligence Summary in August 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 South China Sea-related Events
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• Strategic environment in East Asian waters and issues of the South China Sea

July 2011

Retrospect: the First Half of 2011

• Maritime Security
• Military Developments
• Maritime Boundaries
• South China Sea-related Events
• Diplomacy and International Relations
• Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
• Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
• Intelligence Assessment

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 South China Sea-related Events
  1.4 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.5 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
  
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • 2.1Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships during the first half of 2011
     〜 Characteristics viewed in the IMB Report 〜
   • 2.2 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia in 1st Half of 2011
     〜 from ReCAAP Half Yearly Report 〜

June 2011

• Intelligence Summary in June 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 South China Sea-related Events
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• Overview of Emergency Rescue and Relief Operations by U.S. Forces against Great East Japan Earthquake in Northeastern and Eastern parts of Japan:“Operation Tomodachi” (March 11 〜 April 30, 2011)

May 2011

• Intelligence Summary in May 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 Maritime Boundaries
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• Review on Two Articles
  “When Land Powers Look Seaward”
  “Mao's‘Active Defense’is turning offensive”

April 2011

• Intelligence Summary in April 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 Maritime Boundaries
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• China's National Defense in 2010 - Review of diversity of modernization of military power

March 2011

• Intelligence Summary in March 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 Maritime Boundaries
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others

February 2011

• Intelligence Summary in February 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 Maritime Boundaries
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  1.6 Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others
2. Intelligence Assessment
• Review of “Recent Development in the South China Sea: Grounds for Cautious Optimism?”

January 2011

• Retrospect: the Second Half of 2010
  • Maritime Security
  • Military Developments
  • Maritime Boundaries
  • Diplomacy and International Relations
  • Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  • Ocean Resources, Energy, Sea Environment and Others

Intelligence Summary in January 2011

1. Information Digest
• 1.1 Maritime Security
  1.2 Military Development
  1.3 Maritime Boundaries
  1.4 Diplomacy and International Relations
  1.5 Shipping, Shipbuilding and Harbors
  
2. Intelligence Assessment
   • 2.1 Piracy and Armed Robbery against in the Shipsyear 2010
     (1 January － 31 December 2010): From IMB Annual Report
   • 2.2 Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships
     (From ReCAAP Annual Report)