Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the Straits of Malacca and Singapore open, safe and accessible to international maritime traffic.
Officials from the three countries reiterated the position during the 17th Co-operation Forum held in Singapore on Tuesday, underscoring the waterways’ importance to global commerce.
The three littoral states maintained that the straits are used for international navigation and are covered by the right of transit passage under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law.
They also highlighted the shared role of countries using the waterways, international organizations, shipping companies and other stakeholders in improving navigational safety and protecting the marine environment.
Singapore Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said maintaining secure and open waterways served the interests of all parties that depend on the vital maritime corridor.
Siow also pointed to decades of cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in addressing navigational safety, including in waters where maritime boundaries have yet to be resolved.
He said differences among the three countries had not prevented them from working together on issues affecting the straits, demonstrating the importance of practical maritime cooperation.
The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are among the world’s busiest shipping corridors, carrying nearly a quarter of global seaborne trade and serving as a critical link between major markets in Asia and the rest of the world.