Satellite data emerges as key battleground in Asia-Pacific maritime power race

The contest for maritime dominance in the Asia-Pacific is shifting from control of territory to control of information. Satellite surveillance and digital analytics now dictate how the seas are monitored, redefining traditional power dynamics. While coastal states like those in Southeast Asia legally govern their waters under international law, many depend on foreign systems for the data that reveals vessel movements, resource exploitation, and illegal activities. This reliance on external techn