Strait of Malacca
Table of contents
Economic importance of the Strait
From an economic and strategic perspective the Strait of Malacca is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, an equivalent of the Suez Canal, or the Panama Canal. The Strait forms the main ship passageway between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, linking three of the world's most populous nations: India, Indonesia and China. The Strait carries 50,000 vessels per year, carrying between one-fifth and one quarter of the world's sea trade. Half of all oil shipments carried by sea come through the Strait, in 2003, an estimated 11 million barrels (1,700,000 m³) a day, a trade that is expected to expand as oil consumption rises in China. As the Strait is only 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) wide at its narrowest point, Phillips Channel in the Singapore Strait, it forms some of the world's significant traffic bottlenecks (see link).
All these factors have caused the area to become a target for piracy and a perceived target for terrorism. Piracy has been a considerable problem in the Strait in recent years, rising from around 25 attacks in 1994 to a record 220 in 2000. Just over 150 attacks were carried out in 2003. This accounted for around one-third of all piracy in 2003.
The number of attacks rose again in the first half of 2004, and the total number is expected to top the 2000 record. In response to the rising crisis, the Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean navies stepped up their patrols of the area in July 2004.
Fears of terrorism rest on the possibility that a large ship could be pirated and sunk at a shallow point in the Strait (it is just 25m deep at its shallowest part), effectively blocking the Strait. If successfully achieved, the attack would have a devastating effect on world trade. Opinions amongst security specialists differ about the feasibility and likelihood of such an attack.
Proposals to relieve the Strait
Thailand has developed several plans that if implemented would diminish the economic significance of the Strait. The Thai government has over the course of its history several times proposed to cut a canal through the Isthmus of Kra, shaving around 600 miles from the journey from Africa and the Middle East to the Pacific. This would effectively cut Thailand in two, further isolating the separatist Muslim majority in Pattani. The prohibitive financial and ecological costs suggest that no such canal will go ahead in the near future despite the backing of several Thai politicians, and according to a report leaked to The Washington Times in 2004, the offer by China to underwrite the costs of the canal. A second alternative is to build a pipeline across the isthmus to carry oil to ships waiting on the other side. Proponents of the plan say it would cut the cost of oil delivery to Asia by about $0.50/barrel ($3/m³).
Myanmar has also made a similar pipeline proposal.
Finally there is also a proposal to directly pipe crude from the Middle East to Xinjiang, China. Building began in October 2004.
- World oil transit chokepoints
- BBC News report on the increased security in the Straits
- "Going for the jugular" Report on the potential terrorist threat to the Straits. From the Economist, requires subscription, in the print edition June 10th 2004
- China builds up strategic sea lanes
- A report from the International Maritime Organisation on the implementation of a Straits "Marine Electronic Highway" – a series of technological measures to ensure safe and efficient use of the busy waters