It seems hard to believe, but pirates still roam the seas. The International Chamber of Commerce reported 285 attacks on ships in 1999, up from 42 in 1991, but even that statistic is assumed to be a fraction of the actual number. Nearly three-quarters of the attacks occur in Southeast Asian waters. A solution to the problem will require vigilance and cooperation among all nations of the region.
To step up the fight against modern buccaneers, Tokyo last week hosted a two-day conference on international piracy. Fifteen governments attended the meeting, the first ever. They adopted the "Asia Anti-Piracy Challenges 2000" and the "Mode Action Plan" to promote cooperation and coordination.
For Japan, the issue is especially important. This country depends on shipping for its very survival. Not surprisingly, a large number of attacks involve Japanese ships: 34, or more than 10 percent, in 1999. That is why former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi proposed such a conference last year, and why his successor, Mr. Yoshiro Mori, has embraced the cause.