(Page 9 of 16) - Japan's Maritime Strategy authored by Yamazakai, Makoto.

(2) The Strait of Malacca

The Strait of Malacca is the “Achilles heel” of not just Japan’s economy, but that of the world.
Approximately 50,000 ships per year, more than one quarter of world’s shipping, and about 50% of world
oil tanker shipping, pass through the Strait of Malacca. In addition, 90% of oil which Japan, China,
Korea and Taiwan import pass through this Strait.

Since the end of the Cold War, pirates attacks in South East Asia have increased dramatically

because of the lack of presence of naval power and because of economic disparity and poverty in many
areas. The number of pirate attacks in South East Asia has always been the highest in the world’s
regions and numbered 170(38%) in 2003. According to a IMB(International Maritime Bureau) report,
number of pirates attack in the Strait of Malacca decreased from 75 in 2000 to 17 in 2001 and 16 in 2002,
but it suddenly increased to 28 in 2003 and 37 in 2004.

Pirates in the region have recently begun to use heavy armament in military-like attacks, frequently

going after soft targets such as barges and tugs. Indonesian anti-government groups like the Aceh
independence movement frequently use such piracy to secure funding for their political aims. Though
no pirates attack in the Strait of Malacca has occurred since Tsunami hit Aceh in December last year, it
still must be in caution.
The explosion of the luxury passenger ship “Super Ferry 14” off Manila in February 2004 was caused by
the Muslim extremist organization “Abu Sayyaf”. This type of terrorism at sea by groups like “Abu
Sayyaf” and “Jemaah Islamiah”, both with links to “al Qaeda” are a grave threat. Suicide bombing in
the Strait of Malacca and harbors in South East Asia will cause severe impact on the world’s economy.

Tankers are especially vulnerable. The typical LNG tanker can carry 0.7 megatons of hazardous fuel

that can create a flammable mixture with greater than 200 times the volume of the Great Pyramid. A
heavier‐than‐air plume can drift for miles, then ignite. Paramilitary or terrorist attacks on SLOC or
harbors are so inexpensive, low risk for attacks, and difficult to affix the sources of that they may prove a
fatally attractive instrument of surrogate warfare. One can easily imagine the impact of mines placed in
commercial harbors or straits by small ships such as tugs and barges. SLOC disconnection will affect
badly to money market, energy price and trade in the world, finally easy to bring world economical
recession.

At the “ARF(Asian Regional Forum) ministries conference” in Jakarta in July 2004, a prime topic

among the attendees was measures against piracy and terrorism in the Strait of Malacca.
Ａｔ

this conference, the US proposed establishment of the Regional Maritime Security Initiative(RMSI).

Admiral Tom Fargo, USN, Commander US Pacific Command, had given testimony on this to the US
congress earlier, in May 2004, as a plan to counter piracy and terrorism in the Strait of Malacca. This
initiative establishes ship pursuing systems, information and intelligence exchanges on pirates/terrorist
activities, and development of enhanced anti-piracy and anti-terrorism capabilities by each participating
nation. However, Indonesia and Malaysia concerned about the impact of large power’s military
presence, declined to participate in such a multinational effort. Ultimately, however, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Singapore agreed to conduct “coordinated patrols” in the Strait of Malacca from July 2004.
Not wanting to be left out, China has also proposed holding a “Security policy conference”. There is no