Conclusions, regime building and the way forward

Military intelligence gathering activities in the EEZs are becoming more controversial and more dangerous due to increasing and changing demands for technical intelligence; robust weapons and electronic warfare; and widespread development of information warfare capabilities. There is agreement that freedom of navigation and overflight should not interfere with the coastal state's right to protect and manage its EEZ resources and environment. But there is considerable disagreement on the meaning of some key 1982 UNCLOS language, the means of resolving these disagreements, or whether there is a need to do so. Each alternative approach to resolving these disagreements has its advantages and disadvantages. Needed now is a common understanding of terminology and guidelines for military and intelligence gathering activities in the EEZ. What is being proposed is regime building, a process which has its own conditions for, and constraints to, success. Foremost among the conditions for success is the recognition of the necessity of co-operation, and agreement on its form such as the SUA Convention, or ocean management, which may have a spillover effect to enhanced multilateral security. Given the constraints, a loose blueprint for the way forward can be constructed in which the continuity of this informal dialogue plays a major role. Specific next steps include fact finding regarding previous incidents; production of a glossary of definitions of critical terms; categorization of activities in the EEZ as to which are allowed and not allowed; the manner of implementation of coastal states' rights; the means and manner of enforcement of any agreed rules; and specific suggestions for policy.