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FORUM and stability. This is the last thing that Thailand to jointly explore technology including studying this region – which depends heavily and produce gas in the Gulf of the distribution and evolution on the seas for its economic growth Thailand. The JDA has been of the sediment in the South and to meet its resource requirements hailed as a model in bilateral China Sea, ecosystem health – needs. maritime economic cooperation and biodiversity, and marine in a disputed area between and coastal zone management. One way of reducing the tension in SCS the claimant states involved. is to promote maritime cooperation Through this platform, Malaysia v. Pursuing cooperation in the among the disputed parties. Engaging and Thailand agree to exploit areas related to maritime in cooperation in areas such as trade, the natural resources without transport at the ASEAN environmental protection, navigation extinguishing their legal right level through the Maritime safety, capacity building and security to claims over an area in which Transport Working Group can act as an efective means to difuse claimed by the two countries, (MTWG). MTWG provides a the tension arising from the disputes. and to share the proceeds platform for ASEAN member It also enables the littoral nations to equally. nations to deliberate a range of share resources, transfer technology issues such as shipping, port and reap the economic opportunities iii. Engaging with Singapore operations, maritime economy, that the sea provides in abundance. and Indonesia in an air-sea maritime safety, regional Nations which are engaged in close surveillance initiative over cooperation and human capital cooperation are more likely to seek the Straits of Malacca called development. Deliberations at peaceful resolutions to their disputes ‘Eyes in the Sky’. Launched in MTWG meetings are forwarded and avoid taking an adversarial 2005, this is a one-of-a-kind to the ASEAN Senior Transport position against one another that can initiative that combines aerial Ministers Meeting (STOM), lead to conficts. and surface patrols by the air the highest level in the ASEAN forces and navies of the littoral hierarchy of maritime transport Malaysia is a strong proponent of states. Upon its introduction, discussion. In pursuing maritime cooperation with the littoral ‘Eyes in the Sky’ contributed strategic measures to boost states of bodies of water with which signifcantly to the sharp drop maritime connectivity, safety it shares. This includes in areas of in piracy cases in the sea lane. and efciency under MTWG, navigation safety, environmental From 12 piracy cases in 2005, Malaysia is contributing protection, maritime security, shipping the year in which the Straits towards the creation of an and marine science and technology. was declared as a ‘war risk ASEAN Economic Community Examples of such cooperation are: zone’ by London-based marine which counts on maritime insurance underwriters Lloyds transport as one of its pillars. Market Association, there were i. Enhancing navigation safety only two cases in 2008. Low hanging fruits and boosting environmental protection in the Straits iv. Engaging in formal co- Given the plethora of threats and of Malacca through the operation with China in the challenges at sea, littoral nations Cooperative Mechanism in feld of marine science and at sea must step up maritime the Straits of Malacca with technology through a Joint cooperation to ensure that the seas Singapore, Indonesia and Committee. Malaysia and are open, safe and secure for the use the international community. China signed the Agreement and beneft of all parties. Cooperation The establishment of the on Cooperation in the feld of is especially needed in an area like Cooperative Mechanism in Science and Technology in SCS where disputes among claimant 2007, with the support of Beijing on 3 June 2009. The states and actions by external powers IMO, represents a landmark Agreement serves as a platform may lead to full-blown conficts. They achievement in cooperation for collaborative eforts must step back from the brink of between coastal states between the two countries to using coercive, aggressive measures bordering a strait used for discuss and address jointly to safeguard their interests if the sea international navigation and issues and areas of concern is not going to be turned into an arena user States as well as other in the maritime realm. Under for altercation. They would do well to stakeholders. the Agreement, Malaysia shift their focus, energy and resources and China are committed away from matters that divide them to ii. Establishing Joint Develop- to undertake fve fagship those that unite them. ment Authority (JDA) with projects on marine science and 4 bulletin@idfr.gov.my DIPLOMATIC VOICE 5