Indonesia invites India to join maintaining security in Malacca Strait

www.chinaview.cn  2009-03-05 15:57:10     

JAKARTA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has asked India to take part in maintaining security in the Malacca Strait, Antara News Wire reported on Thursday. 

"We are discussing various possibilities to optimize security in the Malacca Strait, including inviting several countries with an interest in shipping in the strait or countries directly bordering the strait to take part in securing it," Maj. General Supiadin, operations assistant to the Indonesian Armed Force Commander, said here. 

The participation of India in the Malacca Strait patrols would be very positive as then all approaches to the strait will be more secure for international shipping, he said.

The strait constitutes a shipping lane between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and links three of the world's most populous countries, namely India, Indonesia and China. 

Over 50,000 ships sail through the Malacca Strait every year transporting around one fifth or a quarter of the world's maritime trade cargoes. 

Since July 2004, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have established cooperation to maintain security in the Malacca Strait. The trilateral coordinated patrol scheme is codenamed MALSINDO Malacca Straits Coordinated Patrols.