Systemic undersea surveillance race in Asia driven by geopolitical tensions and resource control, obscuring regional cooperation needs

Coastal and island communities in Southeast Asia and the Pacific have relied on traditional ecological knowledge to monitor undersea activity for generations, yet their observations are excluded from formal security assessments. Indigenous groups like the Sama-Bajau in the Philippines and the Orang Laut in Indonesia possess intimate knowledge of tidal patterns, marine biodiversity, and foreign vessel movements, which could inform sustainable maritime governance. Their exclusion reflects a broader pattern where Western scientific and military frameworks dominate, erasing place-based wisdom that could de-escalate tensions.

The Lombok Strait’s strategic importance dates to the Dutch colonial era, when it was designated as a 'chokepoint' for naval transit between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Cold War alliances (e.g., SEATO, ANZUS) institutionalized undersea surveillance in the region, embedding militarized maritime governance into regional institutions. The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) further formalized exclusive economic zones (EEZs), creating legal frameworks for territorial disputes that now intersect with undersea drone technology.

In Pacific Islander traditions, the ocean is a relational space where sovereignty is communal, not territorial—concepts like *vaka moana* (voyaging canoe) symbolize interconnectedness across island states. Southeast Asian maritime cultures, such as the Bugis and Makassarese, historically practiced collective governance of sea lanes, contrasting with the modern state-centric model. These perspectives offer alternatives to the securitization of the ocean, emphasizing shared stewardship over militarized control.

Undersea drones (AUVs) are part of a broader trend in marine technology, with applications ranging from deep-sea mining to climate monitoring, yet their dual-use nature complicates security narratives. The Lombok Strait is a critical choke point for thermohaline circulation, making it vital for climate regulation, yet this ecological role is ignored in favor of geopolitical framing. Scientific studies show that undersea noise pollution from military sonar and drones disrupts marine mammal communication, yet these impacts are rarely discussed in security analyses.

Artists like the Filipino collective *Sipat Lawin* use performance and installation to critique militarization of the seas, framing the ocean as a site of cultural erasure. In Balinese Hinduism, the sea (*segara*) is sacred, and its pollution or militarization is seen as a violation of cosmic balance (*rta*). Indigenous Australian artists, such as those from the Tiwi Islands, depict undersea surveillance as a disruption of ancestral connections to the deep, challenging the extractive logic driving the race.

Scenario modeling by the UN’s Division for Ocean Affairs suggests that unchecked militarization of undersea domains could lead to 30% increase in regional conflicts by 2040, with spillover effects on fisheries and shipping lanes. Alternative futures include regional agreements to designate the Lombok Strait as a 'peace park' for marine conservation, reducing military transit in exchange for shared ecological monitoring. The rise of AI-driven undersea drones could either escalate surveillance or enable cooperative mapping of deep-sea ecosystems, depending on governance frameworks.

Fisherfolk communities in Indonesia and the Philippines, who bear the brunt of foreign incursions and environmental degradation, are rarely consulted in security debates. Women in coastal villages, who often lead traditional fishing cooperatives, possess critical knowledge about undersea changes but are excluded from policymaking. Civil society groups like *WALHI* (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) and *Greenpeace Southeast Asia* advocate for demilitarization but are sidelined by state and corporate interests prioritizing surveillance over sustainability.