Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are working closely together to keep vessels moving safely through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Tuesday, stressing the three countries’ shared responsibility for keeping the waterways open and secure.
“The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are used for international navigation, and therefore the rights of transit passage similarly apply,” said Gan, who is also trade and industry minister, on the opening day of Singapore Maritime Week.
“[The straits] are not only important to Singapore, but to all the countries bordering it. Also, it connects the east from the west, so it’s important for the rest of the world,” he said.
“This is something that we have worked together over the years, to make sure that we maintain the straits [with] a shared responsibility.”
His comments came as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the Iran war have sharpened focus on other major maritime chokepoints – including the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, which link Asia with the Middle East and Europe.
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