the(new)mediaslut

One may have thought it would be all over when the International Court of Justice decided on the sovereignty of Pedra Branca between Singapore and Malaysia.

In a recent statement  by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State Balaji Sadasivan to claim “an Exclusive Economic Zone up to 200 nautical miles from its lands and islands, and up to 12 nautical miles of territorial sea” showed that the dispute is far from over. 

The Malaysian government  has objected to the claim with a  state assemblyman describing the statement as “an action of provocation and said Malaysia should not be trapped by the provocation.”

Rockybru, a Malaysia political blog commentator, described statements by his government as “talking big”.

Wrote Rockybru,

I like it when our leaders talk big. Singapore’s Foreign Minister better stand up and listen. We may have lost Pulau Batu Putih to Singapore at the International Court of Justice, but we are not about to give away anything else.

I think what Rais means is that if Singapore continues with this kind of talk, it’s war. And I don’t mean we are going to war, ok?

In the earlier dispute over Pedra Branca, Singapore’s Ministry of Foriegn Affairs released a QnA on this “talk of war”.

Wrote MFA,

Loose Talk Of War

Q. What is this talk of war over the unresolved bilateral issues?

A. It was started by Malaysian leaders and media. Such loose talk of war is irresponsible and dangerous. It whips up emotions that could become difficult to control.

Singapore wants to have good relations with Malaysia. There is much that both countries can gain by working together. Our common interests far exceed our differences.

According to Wikipedia, the Exclusive Economic Zone ” is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources.”

 
12 Nautical Miles or 22km off Pedra Branca, estimated via Google Earth

From Google Earth estimations, 12 Nautical Miles or 22km will stretch Singapore’s territorial waters into the South China. Extending 200 Nautical Miles of the EEZ will see it almost reaching Palau Matak.

800 Nautical Miles northeast of Pedra Branca lies the Spratly Islands which the EEZs are contested respectively by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

About.com has an interesting take about the importance of EEZs especially in an era where islands are disappearing because of rising sea levels.

Wrote About.com,

One quickly realizes that the claims and disputes in the Spratly Islands involve some very high stakes. For the countries involved, control of those islands may mean the difference between prosperity and poverty and between peaceful coexistence and war. Seeing military men occupying make-shift shacks on rocks or physically piling rocks upon rocks in an attempt to increase the size of and “island” may, at first, seem funny or ludicrous. It quickly becomes evident that this is serious business in international sovereignty and control.