JAKARTA (Bernama): Indonesia will not impose tariffs on vessels transiting the Strait of Malacca as it would be inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Foreign Minister Sugiono stressed that Indonesia respects international law, particularly UNCLOS, saying the convention recognises Indonesia as an archipelagic state and does not allow the imposition of tariffs on straits within its territory.
“We also hope for open sea lanes, and I believe this is a shared commitment among many countries to create shipping routes that are free, neutral, and mutually supportive.
“So, no. Indonesia is not in a position to do that (impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait),” he said according to Antara News Agency, on Thursday.
Earlier, Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Sadewa had floated the possibility of imposing tariffs on vessels passing through the strait.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on Wednesday said no unilateral decisions could be made regarding the Strait of Malacca, stressing ASEAN’s consensus-based approach in maintaining maritime security in the vital waterway.
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also said on the same day that countries along the Malacca Strait have a strategic interest in keeping the waterway open, and Singapore would not participate in any effort to close, intercept, or impose duties in waters around us,” he said.
The Malacca Strait is one of the world’s key international shipping lanes, with transit passage rights guaranteed under Articles 37, 38 and 39 of UNCLOS, which has been ratified by Indonesia. — BERNAMA