Southeast Asia

The Geography

Southeast Asia spans Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines and the Indonesian archipelago, with neighbouring coasts at its edges. Across a wide 2812×1672 frame, thousands of islands and several narrow straits leave only 21% land. The 31 principal starts range from mainland states to large islands and remote Pacific outposts.

The History

Monsoon trade connected Southeast Asia to India, China and the wider Islamic world, supporting states such as Srivijaya and Majapahit. European colonial empires later divided much of the region, while twentieth-century wars and independence movements produced today’s states.

The Battlefield

Sea control is essential. Mainland Southeast Asia offers connected expansion but quickly narrows toward Malacca, while Indonesia and the Philippines require chains of ports and crossings. Large islands make durable regional bases; small island starts can be bypassed or isolated. Own one major strait, build a compact island network and avoid committing fleets to every archipelago at once.