Asean must rethink its airspace security as new surveillance tools appear

SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Agencies): Recent high profile airspace intrusions involving China-launched balloons finding their way over the continental US is likely to raise tensions among members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), especially those with competing claims over the South China Sea (SCS), according to an analyst.

The presence of balloons launched by foreign countries in the airspace of Asean member states presents serious security challenges as a lack of action could result not only the violation of territorial and security interests of these states but also in bolder territorial violations, Collins Chong Yew Keat a foreign affairs analyst with University of Malaya said.