The Pirate Returns: Historical Models, East Asia and the War Against Somali Piracy

The Pirate Returns: Historical Models, East Asia and the War against Somali Piracy

Adam Clulow

The Pirate Returns: Historicalpirates, the attack on the Maersk Alabama Models, East Asia and the War focused world attention on the long-standing problem of Somali piracy. Inhabiting a failed against Somali Piracy state that cannot govern its own cities let alone its 3300-kilometer long coastline, these pirate Adam Clulow gangs are able to operate with almost complete freedom in coastal waters and beyond. On April 8, 2009, pirates attacked a US-flagged cargo vessel, the Maersk Alabama, about five Since 2005 when the first attack in the current hundred kilometers off the Somali coast. The wave was recorded, Somali pirates have gone ship, which carried a crew of twenty US from strength to strength. 2008 was a record nationals, including their now famous captain year, during which they attacked 111 separate Richard Phillips, was on its way to Mombassa vessels, nineteen off the east coast of Somalia in Kenya with a cargo of soya, maize and and a further ninety-two in the Gulf of Aden. cooking oil destined for the UN World Food According to the International Maritime Program. In the early hours of the morning, a Bureau, these attacks resulted in the hijacking group of four teenage gunmen armed with of forty-two ships, a figure that translates into AK-47 assault rifles, the ubiquitous tools of an impressive success rate of just under forty 1 African conflict, boarded the 17,000 tonne ship percent, and the capture of 815 crewmembers. using grappling hooks. When the unarmed but One of the hijacked vessels was the Sirius well-trained crew put up stiff resistance, the Star, a Saudi-owned supertanker captured in pirates were forced to retreat to one of the open waters seven hundred kilometers Maersk Alabama’s lifeboats, taking with them southeast of Mombassa. Without question, this Captain Phillips as a hostage. He wasvessel represents the largest prize ever taken subsequently rescued five days later when US in the history of organized piracy, which navy snipers aboard the USS Bainbridge shot stretches back to the beginning of recorded dead three of the pirates and captured the history. Measuring 330 meters, it displaces fourth alive. over 300,000 tonnes and was captured with two million barrels of oil onboard—a cargo so The Maersk Alabama, which is home-ported in large that some journalists have claimed that Norfolk, Virginia, was the first American ship to its loss caused the global price of oil to jump by be seized in the current wave of Somali piracy. a dollar.2 A ransom of $25 million was initially Its capture is also widely reported to represent demanded for its release, but the pirates later the first time that a US merchant vessel has settled for three million dollars, which was been taken by pirates since the war against the airdropped from a low flying plane. As the Barbary corsairs of North Africa ended almost cargo alone was worth $100 million this two centuries earlier. Although the only losses represented a relative bargain for the ship’s of property and lives were sustained by the Saudi owners, who like most other ship-owners

1 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF in their position were perfectly willing to pay to ensure the safety of their investment. While the capture of the Sirius Star was piracy on a spectacular scale, other less impressive prizes have regularly produced sizable returns with an average payoff of around one million dollars per vessel. One conservative estimate suggests that Somali pirates earned between eighteen and thirty million dollars in the first nine months of 2008 alone.3

Because the pirate appears as an unwelcome apparition from an anarchic and savage past, there has been a tendency to look towards history to find ways to suppress piracy. The attack on the Maersk Alabama prompted a number of commentators to turn their attention to the last American encounter with large-scale piracy, the wars with the Barbary corsairs that took place at the beginning of the nineteenth century, to see what lessons can be drawn from The Sirius Star these conflicts. In fact, it has been difficult to There is now widespread internationalavoid the comparison. Not only do the Barbary recognition that something will have to be done corsairs seem similar to Somali pirates in that about this problem. Piracy has the potential to both are Muslim and African, but the naval strangle commerce flowing through the Gulf of vessel that rescued Captain Phillips is named Aden, one of the world’s most important sea after William Bainbridge who was captured in routes that is used by 20,000 ships every year. Tripoli during the First Barbary War when his There is also a risk that terrorist organizations ship ran aground. In an article published two will enter the piracy business to generate days after the attack on the Maersk Alabama revenue, to gain bargaining chips inand now circulating widely through the negotiations or, in a more frightening scenario, internet, Tom Wilkinson, chief executive officer to use a captured vessel as a weapon. of the United States Naval Institute, argues that the campaign against the Barbary pirates should be held as a model and that the tactics it involved should be duplicated by the US navy today:

The issue is simple but difficult -- how do we eliminate the pirate threat? Strangely, we seem unable to learn from our own history. In 1804 President Thomas Jefferson

2 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF

said “Enough” to paying 20 have held up the British’s navy campaign to percent of the U.S. national budget eradicate Atlantic and Caribbean piracy in the as tribute to Barbary pirates. His first decades of the eighteenth century as a response was clear and successful model. This operation ended the career of -- build a strong naval task force, some of the most notorious pirates in history, equip it with a sizeable contingent including Blackbeard and Bartholomew of Marines, and send it to attack Roberts, and brought the so-called golden age and defeat the pirates in their lair. of piracy to a final, bloody end around 1730. In The sailors and Marines sent on 2009, however, no single state is capable of that mission did just that -- and in duplicating this campaign, which was the process wrote a stirring page conducted by an emerging imperial power with in our nation's early history. The a powerful navy able to police global shipping problem today is that we have lanes. Even a coalition of states, such as the refused to take the Jefferson group of nations that have contributed vessels model. We've confined our anti- to Combined Task Force 151, cannot deploy piracy efforts to the open seas and enough ships to adequately guard the shipping left the pirates' home bases on lanes threatened by pirate attacks. land as a sanctuary. Thus, the pirates continue to operate with relative freedom and stealth. We and our allies only respond, never seizing the initiative. The Jefferson model is a better answer: Take on the pirates where they are, rather than guessing where they will be. In short, attack them at their home bases.4

While Barbary and Somali pirates do resemble each other in some ways, it is far from obvious that the Jefferson model, to use Wilkinson’s term, provides the best template to take from history. Barbary pirates were state-sponsored and hence under the control of an individual ruler who could be compelled by force to shift policy. In contrast, Somali piracy is anarchic and, although certainly tied to power structures on land, cannot be traced back to one figure. Blackbeard (1826 engraving) Setting this fact aside, the idea that a short military campaign involving attacks on pirate If we are to look towards history for the land bases will be enough to halt large-scale answer, then we would do well to turn our piracy and to prevent these groups from attention to East Asia, specifically to a number reappearing as soon as the Marines leave is of largely neglected but highly sophisticated problematic at best. anti-piracy campaigns that ended the careers of tens of thousands of pirates in the premodern Other commentators with an eye on history and early modern periods. There are two

3 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF reasons to focus on East Asia. First, the region were heavily reliant on measures to entice is very much at the center of the emerging pirates away from the business of maritime crisis. While the attack on the Maersk Alabama violence and into new roles. As such, the focused attention on the United States and its strategies employed in these campaigns are rude encounter with piracy, countries across broadly relevant to the Somali case, which East Asia have been grappling with this requires a multi-pronged approach that deals problem long before Captain Phillips’ vessel first with conditions on land. This is not to say was boarded. The economic consequences of that any historical model will be duplicated Somali piracy are obvious with Chinese and exactly in Somalia. All East Asian models, as Japanese shipping companies already losing indeed any of the other templates that can be over half a dozen ships to attacks. At the same supplied from history, are tied to a unique set time, the situation in Somalia appears to of historical circumstances that can never be present one of those opportune crises that replicated, but they nonetheless offer valuable allow national leaders to advance long-held lessons for current policymakers. In addition, agendas without encountering significant the sheer number of references made in resistance. One prescient newspaper editorial newspapers and other media to past has already noted that Somalia pirates are encounters with piracy and what can be learnt quietly and unexpectedly “transformingfrom these show that historical models do have geopolitical relationships in East Asia” and it is the potential to fruitfully shape the debate no exaggeration to say that the decisions taken about how to deal with the current crisis in in response to this problem have the potential Somalia. to reshape the region.5 In particular, the policies pursued by China, Japan, and South East Asia and Somali pirates Korea, all of which have already sent naval vessels to Africa, will almost certainly have As an emerging economic power serviced by a long term consequences that extend far beyond rapidly expanding merchant fleet and heavily the immediate crisis. dependent on Middle East oil to fuel its economy, China is particularly vulnerable to Second, an examination of past East Asian piracy. In early 2005, at the very start of the encounters with piracy offers a more viable current wave of attacks, an LPG tanker owned template for action than either the American or by a Hong-Kong based company was captured British models outlined above. The campaigns by Somali pirates and ransomed for $300,000, required to suppress the multiple peaks of a comparatively low figure when compared to pirate activity that East Asia experienced the sums now regularly paid out but also a featured a raft of innovative measures,harbinger of things to come. In 2008, at least including the active incorporation of pirate seven of the 1,265 Chinese vessels that passed elites into political structures and the mass through the Gulf of Aden were attacked. These disarmament of coastal populations. On the included the Tianyu No. 8, a fishing trawler most general level, it is possible to say that with sixteen Chinese crew-members, that was East Asian campaigns were far less reliant on captured by Somali pirates on November 14 the roving squadrons of pirate-hunting vessels and set free in early February 2009 after so central to American and European efforts paying an undisclosed sum in ransom. and tended to focus more on circumstances on land, working to eliminate the root causes of In January 2009, the People’s Liberation Army piracy and to deprive potential pirates of Navy (PLAN) dispatched vessels, two motivation and means. As a result, these destroyers and a supply ship, to join anti-piracy campaigns were seldom simply punitive and patrols in the Gulf of Aden. Over the next four

4 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF months, they proceeded to escort 210 vessels opportunities to push towards wider goals. The and to rescue three ships from the clutches of Chinese government has already announced pirates. The China Daily, which ispublicly that it has instructed PLAN ships to conventionally regarded as a government focus on guarding Chinese vessels and crews, mouthpiece, described the operations of this including those from Hong Kong, Macao small fleet in grand terms as a “historic and—more controversially—Taiwan. In January mission” and even normally reticent Chinese 2009, PLAN vessels escorted a Taiwan-owned government officials seem eager to emphasize tanker, the Formosa Product Cosmos, through the momentous nature of the deployment.6 the Gulf of Aden, prompting a Taiwanese One Foreign Ministry spokesman stated simply government official to note defensively that the that “China’s military participation sends a ship, which is registered in Liberia and was strong political message to the international under hire to a South Korean company, was not community, that a China with its improved really Taiwanese in any substantial way. So far economic and military strength is willing to officials from Taiwan have rejected any notion play a larger role in maintaining world peace of special protection from China, but the and security.”7 Speaking as the first squadron situation has been complicated further by the prepared to head for African waters, the capture of a Taiwanese fishing vessel, Win Far commander of the Chinese navy was explicit 161, by Somali pirates in April of this year and about the fact that this represented something the subsequent offer by PLAN warships to new when he observed that it is “the first time rescue the crew.10 If China is able to assume we go abroad to protect our strategic interests responsibility for protecting all vessels from armed with military force - and the first time Taiwan passing through these waters, then it for our navy to protect important shipping represents a subtle but effective challenge to lanes far from our shores.”8 Few the sovereignty of the island. commentators outside of China seem inclined to disagree with this assessment. Indeed, some Like their counterparts in China, Japanese have argued that the deployment represents shipping companies have already lost a number the first time that Chinese naval forces have of vessels to Somali pirates.11 Since October embarked on an active combat mission outside 2007, when the chemical tanker Golden Nori their own waters since Zheng He’s famous was seized, a steady stream of ships with a voyages to Southeast Asia and East Africa in direct connection to Japan have been attacked, the early fifteenth century, a period when captured, ransomed and then released. The China ruled the waves.9 Although the country last half of 2008 was particularly difficult with is still a long away from regaining the position almost monthly incidents. The bulk carrier of maritime dominance it once held, the Stella Maris was captured in July 2008 on its operation in the Gulf of Aden does show that way to Europe and taken to the pirate the Chinese military, and hence the Chinese headquarters of Eyl with twenty-one sailors as state, is intent on playing a more active role on hostages. One month later, the chemical the world stage. Equally, there is no sign that tanker Irene was attacked and hijacked by this new confidence will fade anytime soon. armed pirates. Both vessels were subsequently PLAN officers have already commented that freed in October after ransoms were paid. The they do not see this as a “short mission” and MT Stolt Valor, a Hong Kong-flagged, Japanese- there is every reason to believe that it marks owned chemical tanker carrying 23,818 tonnes the beginning of a far more prominent role for of oil products, was boarded by fifteen pirates China’s navy. armed with automatic weapons in September and ransomed for $2.5 million. In October, the The crisis in Somalia also presents unexpected Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier, MV African

5 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF

Sanderling, which is operated by Nagashiki have been less than explicit about the historic Shipping, was attacked and boarded by a group nature of their decision, it is nonetheless highly of pirates in speedboats. Finally, the Chemstar significant. On the most basic level, it Venus, a Japanese oil tanker, was seized in represents the export of a traditional East November 2008 and released in February 2009 Asian rivalry to a new part of the world. The after a ransom estimated at around one million timing of the deployment, which came soon dollars. In total therefore, five vesselsafter Chinese vessels started patrols, has connected with Japan were taken andprompted some to speculate that it was made ransomed in just six months—a fact that is not in direct response to China’s decision to send surprising if we consider that Japaneseships to the region. companies send around two thousand ships through the Gulf of Aden each year. So far, The involvement of MSDF forces in a campaign only one Japanese crewmember has been to suppress violent piracy can be expected to captured but this figure is likely to increase. have long-lasting effects on the constitution and particularly on article nine, which is

already under threat. The obvious danger to Japanese shipping and the fact that a number of vessels have already fallen prey to pirates means that the deployment of the Sazanami and the Samidare has been less controversial in Japan than the mission to Iraq or the refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, but in contrast to these earlier missions, it will almost certainly involve frequent and violent confrontations. As such, it presents opportunities to further bend article nine to the point that this crucial part of the constitution becomes essentially meaningless. Currently the MSDF is limited to protecting ships registered in Japan, operated by Japanese companies or carrying Japanese Somali pirates nationals or goods, but an anti-piracy measures In response, the Japanese government has bill that is being debated in the upper house of dispatched its own vessels to the Indian the Diet would significantly expand the MSDF’s Ocean. Prime Minister Aso has framed the role to allow for the protection of all ships 13 problem in stark terms, arguing that piracy “is passing through the region. If passed, the a life-or-death matter that threatens Japan’s bill would permit the MSDF to use force to stop national interests of securing the safety of pirate vessels from approaching merchant transport by sea… The pirates off the coast of shipping even if no direct attack has been 14 Somalia are especially a threat to themade. If the MSDF is allowed to engage in international community, including Japan, and preemptive attack, and if as a result the use of emergency measures need to be taken.”12 At force becomes a regular occurrence, then it the end of March 2009, two Japanese Maritime opens the door to looser and looser Self Defense Force (MSDF) destroyers, the interpretations of article nine and the end of Sazanami and the Samidare, commenced any remnant of constitutional restraint. patrols in the waters around the Horn of Africa. Although Japanese government officials Models from East Asia

6 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF

Given the repeated references that have been East Asia witnessed a second surge of wakō made to past American and European anti- activity, driven this time by multi-ethnic groups piracy campaigns coupled with the fact that of pirates organized around Chinese East Asia is tightly bound to the current crisis, entrepreneurs based in Japan.15 The collapse it is surprising that few politicians, scholars or of central authority within Japan that enabled journalists have examined historical models the wakō to prosper also permitted the rise of from the region. This stems in part from a domestic piracy concentrated in the Seto general lack of awareness of the history of Inland Sea and directed by such figures as piracy in East Asia, a situation that has been Murakami Takeyoshi who was described as compounded by the sparse nature of scholarly, “the greatest corsair of all Japan.”16 While or for that matter popular, works on the topic. Japan was always prominent, it was by no In comparison to Atlantic and Caribbean means the only centre of pirate activity in East pirates, who continue to generate a steady flow Asia. Zheng Chenggong or Koxinga mixed of books, articles, novels and films, piracy in piracy, trade and empire-building into a potent East Asia remains the realm of a few highly combination that brought him control of specialized historians and never captured the Taiwan and allowed the Zheng family to popular imagination in the same way as establish an effective centre of resistance to European buccaneers. This is unfortunate as the emerging Qing regime. Finally, mention there is a great deal that can be learnt from should be made of a remarkable rise in piracy past East Asian experiences with piracy. that started around 1780 in Guangdong and involved an estimated fifty thousand active Given its place in the premodern global pirates at its peak.17 As the available space economy, it is not surprising that East Asia has does not permit a full examination of how long been among the most active centers of government authorities across East Asia dealt world piracy. A number of crescendos of with each surge in pirate activity, the last maritime violence in the region involved the section will focus on two innovative and highly Japanese archipelago, which became so well successful campaigns implemented by the known for its pirate connection that early rulers of Korea and Japan in the fifteenth and European mapmakers labeled it as Ilhas dos sixteenth centuries. Ladrones or the Isle of Pirates. The campaign conducted at the beginning of One peak of East Asian piracy took place in the the fifteenth century by the newly founded fourteenth century and was directed against Choson state, which ruled Korea from 1392 to the Korean peninsula. Starting around 1350, 1910, illustrates the effective use of both carrot Korean sources record a tremendous surge in and stick in dealing with pirates. Conducted pirate raids culminating in an eight-year over a series of decades and in both Korea and stretch from 1376 to 1384 when around forty Japan, this operation was highly successful in attacks were documented each year. These ending the wakō threat against the Korean raids were conducted by Japan-based pirates peninsula. The punitive aspect of the campaign referred to in Korean sources as waegu, a is visible in the large-scale military attacks derogatory term for the Japanese thatdirected against pirate lairs such as the island translates literally as dwarf robbers. They are of Tsushima, which was invaded by 16,000 now known more commonly as wakō, the troops under the command of the fourth Japanese reading of the same characters, and Choson king in 1419. However, the rulers of unlike pirates in Europe preferred to attack Korea were also prepared to offer significant coastal settlements rather than merchant rewards by incorporating pirate chieftains and ships. In the middle of the sixteenth century, their sponsors into diplomatic and commercial

7 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF networks. One Korean official who visited reliable source of income to local warlords and Japan in 1444 wrote the following assessment employment to coastal communities. Since the of the situation and the steps needed to collapse of the Ashikaga shogunate in 1467 and suppress piracy: the onset of Japan’s warring states (Sengoku) period, no central authority had been able to exert real power over the archipelago’s In these regions, the people’s maritime fringes. Indeed, it is worth noting dwellings are miserable; land is that the chaotic world of Sengoku Japan, tight and, moreover, utterly characterized as it was by a failed state and barren, so that they do not pursue endemic conflict fuelled by a proliferation of agriculture and can scarcely weapons and competing groups, bears some escape starvation; thus they resemblance to the current situation in engage in banditry, being of a Somalia. However, within about a decade weak and violent cast … But if we Hideyoshi was able to end Japan’s long tenure attend to them with courtesy and as the Isle of Pirates nourish them with generosity, even more so than in previous days, Campaigns against piracy typically involve a then the pirates will all submit18 powerful naval force that is used to hunt down and destroy pirate vessels. This was the case Putting these words into action, Choson agents when the American government launched its offered stipends, titles and commercialattack on Barbary pirates, an operation that monopolies to wakō leaders in a sophisticated hinged on the use of the US navy’s newly deployment of bribery that brought potential constructed frigates, and when the British offenders into the system and gave them a government moved to suppress Atlantic and stake in its preservation. The 1443 Kakitsu Caribbean piracy. Although Hideyoshi did treaty that allocated commercial rights to the assemble a substantial maritime force to invade ruling family of Tsushima represents the Korea, he made no use of a naval contingent culmination of this process and the final when suppressing piracy. Instead, the anti- transformation of former pirate lords into piracy campaign that he implemented rested on consistent allies and an enthusiastic police a series of far-reaching measures designed to force. Not only did Tsushima cease its exert influence over land. In essence, the involvement in piracy, but it emerged as a campaign consisted of three steps: crucial bridge between Korea and Japan, identification, disarmament and enforcement. playing a vital role in keeping commercial and The key moment in the campaign can be dated diplomatic relations open, often through precisely to August 29, 1588 when Hideyoshi extremely difficult times, over the next four issued two decrees, the famous ‘sword-hunt’ centuries. edict and an anti-piracy regulation, that combined to strip away the basis for organized Although these measures ended the threat piracy. against Korea, piracy continued to flourish within Japan until the late sixteenth century The first step was to identify and investigate when Toyotomi Hideyoshi finally curbed it. By the communities involved in piracy. The anti- any standard, Hideyoshi’s achievement was piracy edict, the lesser known of the two substantial. By the time he seized power, Japan decrees, specifically targeted coastal and especially Kyushu had been an active communities by ordering that “the sea captains center of piracy for centuries. Piracyand the fishermen of the provinces and the underpinned the local economy, providing a seashores, all those who go in ships to the sea,

8 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF shall immediately be investigated.”19 Once The war against piracy in Somalia they were identified, these sea peoples were compelled to sign oaths declaring that they The reality is that policing operations at sea, would no longer engage in piracy. The edict the dominant strategy currently employed, will thus extended control over the maritime fringes not eliminate the threat of Somali piracy if not of the archipelago, effectively moving the accompanied by other measures that deal with “marginal men” who were so central to piracy the problem on land. Here past models from out of the margins and into legal structures.20 East Asia are most relevant. The campaigns Second, Hideyoshi attempted to disarm large against the wakō in the fifteenth and sixteenth sections of the population. The warlords that centuries succeeded because they were able to emerged during the Sengoku period raised co-opt local elites and use them to suppress large armies, engaged in prolonged conflict piracy. Within Somalia, there is a clear need to with local rivals and effectively militarized the work more closely with local actors, to find countryside. During a century of near-ways to transform them from pirate sponsors continuous conflict, violence came to permeate into a policing force and to incorporate them every level of Japanese society. Theinto wider structures. Along these lines, a recent United Nations working group has proliferation of arms meant that weapons identified the need to “enlist all influential “penetrated the villages, cities, and Somali actors” as a top priority in fighting monasteries of the warring states period as the piracy.22 While implementation of this ubiquitous instruments of sectarian warfare, recommendation would certainly represent a agrarian rebellion, and endemic violent step forward, it may be necessary to go further struggles.”21 By implementing the ‘sword-hunt’ by recognizing that the old nation state of edict, Hideyoshi was able to disarm the Somalia is dead and that power has migrated to countryside and to reduce or eliminate the new, smaller political units such as the means for violence. Finally, Hideyoshi placed Republic of Somaliland, a breakaway state that the responsibility for suppressing piracy firmly has been able to effectively police its coastline in the hands of local warlords who controlled and to control organized piracy. Instead of the areas in which pirates were based. The trying to revive the corpse of a failed state, the 1588 edict made these individuals directly international community must be prepared to accountable for any pirate attacks that were acknowledge the republic’s de-facto existence launched from their domains and warned that and to work towards strengthening its the new regime would not hesitate toinstitutions. confiscate land and to strip offenders of office. Through this measure, in much the same way Second, it is necessary to offer genuine as the Choson state in the fifteenth century, incentives in order to encourage both pirates Hideyoshi sought to bring pirates into the and their sponsors to turn away from the system and to turn them from offenders into an lucrative business of attacking ships. Piracy is effective police force. one of the few boom industries in Somalia, offering incomes more than ten times average Hideyoshi’s campaign did not end piracy earnings, and its attraction can only be overnight. Isolated pirate attacks continued to countered by effective application of both be recorded well into the seventeenth century, carrot and stick. One way to move forward but his efforts transformed piracy from an would be to resuscitate the local fishing organized industry that could be conducted industry through a combination of economic aid with virtual impunity into a far more sporadic and by finally doing something to stop the business that entailed great risks. plundering of Somali waters by foreign

9 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF trawlers. In the sixteenth century, Hideyoshi ready availability of arms has propelled the started off his campaign by recognizing the link steady escalation in piracy since 2005 and that between piracy and fishermen, a particularly something must be done about the problem of important connection in the Somali case where weapons proliferation.24 piracy started as a protest against foreign In the end, Somali piracy will take a number of trawlers operating illegally in coastal waters years to completely eradicate, but measures and where even now protection of fishing need to be taken now to reduce its impact. grounds remains a significant justification for Although they are tied to a specific period, pirates. When interviewed, one pirate historical models do have a role to play in spokesman expressed it in simple terms: “We solving the problem of Somali piracy. Since don’t consider ourselves sea bandits… We East Asia is so firmly at the center of this crisis consider sea bandits those who illegally fish in and because there is something to be learnt our seas and dump waste in our seas and carry from past Chinese, Japanese and Korean weapons in our seas. We are simply patrolling 23 campaigns against pirates, commentators our seas. Think of us like a coast guard.” would do well to avoid focusing exclusively on Providing concrete rewards and alternative one-dimensional models derived from past employment to former pirates would start to American or European encounters with pirates move Somalia’s own ‘marginal men’ out of the and embrace a wider range of examples. shadows and away from maritime violence.

Adam Clulow teaches at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. His research focuses on the history of piracy and maritime violence in East Asia. He is currently working on a book manuscript that examines the interaction between the Tokugawa state and the Dutch East India Company in early modern Japan. He wrote this article for The Asia-Pacific Journal.

Recommended citation: Adam Clulow, “The Pirate Returns: Historical Models, East Asia and the War against Somali Piracy” The Asia- Pacific Journal, Vol. 25-3-09, June 22, 2009.

On related issues see: Michael Penn, Somali Pirates and Political Winds Drive Japan to the Gate of Tears

Armed Somali pirate Notes

Finally, some kind of disarmament campaign 1 “Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships: must be implemented if piracy is to be curtailed Annual Report,” ICC International Maritime or ended. Despite the presence of an arms Bureau, 2008. embargo, Somalia remains one the most highly 2 David Eimer, “Chinese navy to take on militarized countries in the world, one study Somali pirates,” Telegraph, December 18, estimating that 64% or roughly two thirds of all 2008. Somalis possess one or more weapons. The 3 “Piracy in Somalia,” Chatham House Briefing United Nations has recently concluded that the Paper, October 2008.

10 7 | 25 | 3 APJ | JF

4 Tom Wilkinson, “Commentary: Take fight to 1975. the pirates,” www.cnn.com, April 9, 2009. 16 For a detailed study of piracy in the Seto 5 Frank Ching, “Should we accept China's Inland Sea see, Peter Shapinsky, “Lords of the protection against pirates?,” The China Post, Sea: Pirates, Violence, and Exchange in January 21, 2009 Medieval Japan,” Ph.D dissertation, University 6 Cui Xiaohuo, “Fleets relay baton, new of Michigan, 2005. mission to last 6 months,” China Daily, April 17, 17 Robert Anthony, “State, Community, and 2009. Pirate Suppression in Guangdong Province, 7 Wu Jiao and Peng Kuang, “Sailing to 1809-1810,” Late Imperial China 27.1 (June strengthen global security,” China Daily, 2006): 1-30. December 26, 2008. 18 Jurgis Elisonas, “The Inseparable Trinity: 8 Mark Valencia and Nazery Khalid, The“ Japan's Relations with China and Korea,” in Somalia Multilateral Anti-Piracy Approach: Early Modern Japan, Volume 4, The Cambridge Caveats on Vigilantism,” The Asia-Pacific History of Japan, edited by John W. Hall, et al., Journal, Vol. 8-4-09, February 17, 2009. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. 9 Louis Levathes, When China Ruled the Seas: 19 Theodore de Bary, Donald Keene, George The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, Tanabe and Paul Varley, eds, Sources of 1405-1433, New York, Oxford University Press, Japanese Tradition, Volume One: From Earliest 1996. Times to 1600, New York: Columbia University 10 Cui Xiaohuo, “Navy keen to protect Taiwan Press, 2002, 459 ships from piracy,” China Daily, April 8, 2009. 20 For a description of this concept, see Murai 11 “Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships: Shōsuke, Chūsei Wajin den, Iwanami shinsho Annual Report,” ICC International Maritime 274, Tokyo: Iwanami shoten, 1993. Bureau, 2008. 21 Mary Elizabeth Berry, “Public Peace and 12 Ito Masami, “Debate starts on the bill to Private Attachment: The Goals and Conduct of free up MSDF,” Japan Times, April 15, 2009. Power in Early Modern Japan,” Journal of 13 The anti-piracy measures bill was passed by Japanese Studies 12.2 (1986): 237-71. the lower house in April 2009. 22 “Piracy off the Somalia Coast,” Workshop 14 Ministry of Defense, Press Conference, commissioned by the Special Representative of April 4, 2009 the Secretary General of the UN, Nairobi, 15 The most famous of these entrepreneurs November 2009. was Wang Zhi, a smuggler, merchant and 23 Jeffrey Gettleman, “Q. & A. With a Pirate: pirate who operated from a base in Kyushu. We Just Want the Money,” New York Times, For an examination of Wang Zhi and similar September 30, 2008 figures, see Kwan-wai So, Japanese Piracy in 24 “Somalia: Path to Recovery Building a Ming China during the Sixteenth Century. East Sustainable Peace,” Center for Research and Lansing: Michigan State University Press, Dialogue Mogadishu, July 2004