As land-based resources dwindle, tensions will increase in disputed areas at sea. Recent years have seen an increase in territorial water incidents. Southeast Asia has suffered several territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas,1 and witnessed the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.2 Libya was found to be laying mines to blockade Misurata,3 and now concerns have been raised over the possibility of mining the Strait of Hormuz.4 More submarines are being deployed globally,5 not always legitimately (submarines purpose-built for drug smuggling have been found in Central America,6 for example). Closer to home the increased risk of terrorist activity coincides with the headache of cutbacks.
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