Littoral states reaffirm commitment to safe Malacca and Singapore Straits

Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the Straits of Malacca and Singapore free, open and safe for international shipping. The three littoral states made the commitment during the 17th Co-operation Forum in Singapore. They confirmed the status of the waterways as straits used for international navigation. Therefore, the right of transit passage applies under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law. The states also stressed the importance of respecting navigational rights and freedoms in both principle and practice.