In international and physical law, the Straits of Malacca are under the full control of three major countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. All three countries hold sovereign rights over their territorial waters according to their respective maritime boundaries.
They shoulder great responsibility in managing ship traffic, maintaining security from the threat of piracy, and ensuring environmental sustainability along this narrow passage through close cooperation such as joint sea and air patrols.
International Ship Transit Rights
Although Malaysia and its neighbors are the legal owners of the waters, the Straits of Malacca are categorized as an international waterway that is important for world trade.
This means that, under the UN law of the sea, all foreign ships have the right of “Transit Passage” which allows them to pass through this strait without interference or restrictions from coastal countries.
World powers such as China and the United States do not physically control this strait, but they are always watching closely because any disruption here would cripple their global economies.
Strait of Malacca VS Blockade of Hormuz
The importance of control in the Strait of Malacca is often compared to the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East.
In terms of density, the Strait of Malacca is much busier with traffic of over 90,000 ships per year carrying almost 30 percent of world trade, compared to Hormuz which is more focused on energy flows.
If the Strait of Hormuz is the main 'oil pipeline' that controls world petrol prices, the Strait of Malacca is the 'supply pulse' that carries everything from energy resources to daily goods, making it the most critical route for the continuity of the global supply chain.
