Incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the straits of Malacca and Singapore have nearly quadrupled in the strategic waterways this year, according to a new report from an anti-piracy monitoring group. In the first six months of this year there were 80 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the straits, according to ReCAAP’s Information Sharing Centre (ISC). In the same period last year there were 21 incidents. The strait of Malacca, a narrow but key stretch of water located between Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, is essential for global trade. It serves as a crucial maritime corridor between the…