Let\’s Visit Asia

Pirates in Asia

by Ruth on January 5th, 2007

On New Year’s Day, we took my son to an exhibition on pirates in Speyer, Germany. At one point, he was watching a short documentary and heard that pirates are still well and alive in Asia.

“Mom, is that true? There are still pirates in Asia?” His eyes were twinkling, probably thinking of the adventures and might that pirate stories are made of.

Yes, there are pirates in Asia, particularly in the straits of Malacca, traversing between Indonesia and Malaysia. This narrow channel is bustling and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the region, and ships tend to slow down as they pass through. This gives pirates ample opportunity to attack ships. Of course, they don’t don red-and-white striped clothes, with an image of skull and crossbones on their chests, and instead of hooks and swords, they now have rifles and modern armaments.

Pirates, robbers, crooks. Is there a difference?

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POSTED IN: Culture Shock: Asia, General : Asia Travel