The framework of Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery in Asia (ReCAAP) was set up in Tokyo in 2004. Under this agreement, the Information Sharing Centre (ISC) was established. Member countries are obliged to provide a framework for exchanging information on matters that include prevention and suppression of piracy and armed robbery, the arrest of perpetrators and seizure of vessels/craft used to carry out attacks, and rescue of victims of attacks.This is the first time governments in the East, the Southeast, and the South Asia have institutionalised their cooperation in the form of a permanent body with full-time staff to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships.