Written by Robert van Maaren

As the search continues for the missing jet and the people onboard, the focus for some analysts shifts somewhat towards diplomacy within Southeast Asia.

People all over the world are trying to gather bits and pieces of clues that are shaping different theories, from pilots suffering from psychological issues to hijacking or conspiracy theories over coverups.

After all, how can the airforce of Malaysia – home to the world’s most famous ‘twin towers’ in the post 9/11 era, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur – not respond immediately when a plane disappears and radar records reveal it has turned back towards the Malaysian Peninsula.

The domestic and international responses to the mysterious disappearance are giving way for some interesting insights into some of the geopolitical dynamics that have emerged in the region in recent years. The scramble for resources, particularly fisheries and undersea oil and gas, has escalated tensions in the Southeast Asian seas. The debates over who owns which islands and subsequently who has the rights to certain areas of the South China Sea for fishing and drilling has led to what resembles a tense game of cards.

Military and naval secrecy are now arguably more important than at any time in recent decades.

But how will these dynamics be influenced by mystery of MH370 – what secrets will emerge as Malaysia puts pressure on its Southeast Asian neighbours to put some of their cards on to the table? Can these players put aside their differences and collaborate?

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