Singapore, RI discuss sea borders
Singapore, RI discuss sea borders
Agencies, Singapore
Singapore and Indonesia have begun talks to resolve a long- running dispute over maritime boundaries, one of several issues straining relations between the Southeast Asian neighbors.
The two sides held a first "technical" meeting on Monday, following a recent decision by senior officials to begin talks on sea boundaries, according to a joint statement from the two governments obtained by Reuters.
Maritime borders have been a sensitive issue as Indonesia is worried that tiny Singapore will redraw its maritime boundaries through consistent land reclamation.
The discussion on Monday, which outlined the direction of future "regular meetings", is another sign of warming ties.
Relations between Singapore and Indonesia have improved since Singapore troops delivered some of the first aid to Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province.
Meanwhile, Singapore and the United States are co-hosting a meeting on regional maritime security this week.
The meeting, which begins on Wednesday and ends on Friday, will be attended by maritime experts from the military, law enforcement, ports and shipping, and policy agencies of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
The goal is to enhance multilateral cooperation to increase maritime safety.
Discussions will also center on operational solutions to maritime security threats, shipping and port security, and technology for maritime security.
The main speakers at the event will include the secretary- general of the International Maritime Organization, the navy chiefs of Malaysia and Singapore, the deputy navy chief of Indonesia, and the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific area.
An estimated 50,000 ships carrying as much as one quarter of the world's commerce and half of the world's oil pass through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore each year.
The narrow channel is considered a vulnerable point, vulnerable to terrorism, and countries in the region have been working hard to curb piracy in the straits.