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Protecting the Strait of Malacca: Too little too late?
According to the Marine Department of Malaysia, the Strait of Malacca is traversed by more than 70, 000 vessels each year.
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Malaysian special forces absail onto a vessel from a police helicopter during an antipiracy demonstration in the Strait of Malacca in this file photo. (AFP)
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outheast Asia is home to two of the busiest straits in the world – the straits of Malacca and Singapore. The closure of this important shipping way would violate international law affecting the well-being of the global economy.
Although Singapore is in support of the pact, Malaysia and Indonesia on the other hand have expressed uneasiness on the establishment of a tripartite security alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States named AUKUS. This trilateral security pact announced in September 2021 would enable Australia to construct at least eight nuclear-powered submarines through this trilateral security partnership.
Australia has reiterated that the development of its nuclear-powered submarines program is not in contravention of international law. Developing nuclear-powered submarines is not in any way similar to developing nuclear weapons. Australia is projected to possess its first nuclear-powered submarine by the year 2040.
Given the fact that the unimpeded transit passage applies to the straits of Malacca and Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have reason to get all worked up.
International law places the obligation on Malaysia and Indonesia to allow its territorial sea within the straits of Malacca and Singapore to be open for international navigation, including to that of nuclear-powered vessels and submarines.
Would such navigation be detrimental to these nations’ security? Would this in any way adversely affect the sensitive marine environment of the straits of Malacca and Singapore?
The straits of Malacca and Singapore route is the shortest maritime passageway connecting oil exporter nations in West Asia to their East Asian consumers. In 2017, the Singapore-based Nippon Maritime Center reported that one vessel left or entered the straits of Malacca and Singapore every six minutes.
