Maritime Boundary and Territorial Issues Several ASEAN countries are engaged in maritime demarcation disputes with each other. The most important of these concern the strained relations between Thailand and Myanmar, the dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia over the province of Sabah, the competing claims of the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam in the South China Sea , territorial disputes between Malaysia and Indonesia and Malaysia and Thailand and tensions between Singapore and Malaysia. The demarcation of maritime boundaries has a significant influence on relations between ASEAN member states. JN Mak, in his work on sovereignty in ASEAN and the problem of maritime cooperation in the South China Sea, argues that cooperation at sea is very problematic unlike the land domain where borders/territorial sovereignty have been clearly established. This is due, according to him, to the fact that ASEAN members are engaged in defining borders. The demarcation and delineation of borders between ASEAN member states clearly illustrates the fragility of the CBM in the region. Lingering tensions and suspicions as well as unresolved territorial disputes pose a serious obstacle to expanding defense cooperation within ASEAN, which is limited to naval cooperation. This is one of the main reasons why this region has a very fragile CBM, caused by the disparity of national interests among ASEAN member countries. Among the many border and territorial disputes, three main disputes are of concern to Malaysia: the dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia in the Celebes Sea, between Malaysia and Singapore in Pulau Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca) and in the South China Sea .2.1. Batuan UnarangBased on the provisions given by the "Geneva Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 1958", supported by the emergency (...... middle of document ...... The SEAN Maritime Forum was introduced to promote the CMB However, a common agreement is necessary to prevent confrontations and incidents in the ASEAN maritime domain. Nevertheless, a common agreement can be a long and daunting process and is unlikely to be achieved. achieved in the near future ASEAN's policy of non-interference requires countries to have bilateral relations. In addition, ASEAN states are concerned about internal security and regional survival, making it difficult to achieve. defense cooperation within ASEAN A joint naval agreement is therefore no exception to the existing challenges ASEAN navies depend on the comfort level or expectations of each naval service with regard to engagement. in future shared responsibilities and active cooperation for regional maritime security..