Indo-Malaysia Ocean

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The "Indo-Malaysia ocean" likely refers to the maritime areas shared by Indonesia and Malaysia, specifically the Strait of Malacca, South China Sea, and Celebes Sea. These bodies of water play a significant role in the region's trade and geopolitics, with the Strait of Malacca being a crucial shipping lane. [1]

The maritime boundaries between Indonesia and Malaysia are located four bodies of water, namely the Strait of Malacca, Strait of Singapore, South China Sea and Celebes Sea. The territorial seas of both countries (both claim a 12-nautical-mile (22 km) territorial sea) only meet in the Straits of Malacca and Straits of Singapore. Territorial sea boundaries also exist at the continuation of both ends of the land boundary between the two countries in Borneo. Only continental shelf boundaries have been agreed to in the South China Sea while the continental shelf boundary in the Celebes Sea has not been determined at all. [2]

Strait of Malacca

This narrow waterway connects the Indian Ocean (via the Andaman Sea) and the Pacific Ocean (via the South China Sea). It's a major shipping route, vital for global trade. [3] [4]

South China Sea

Both Indonesia and Malaysia have maritime boundaries within the South China Sea, with some areas of overlap and disagreement. [5] [6]

Celebes Sea

This sea also has overlapping maritime claims between the two countries, particularly at the eastern end of Borneo. [5] [6] [1]

Maritime Boundaries

While some maritime boundaries have been agreed upon, such as in the Strait of Malacca, others remain under negotiation or disputed. [5]

The maritime boundaries between Indonesia and Malaysia are located four bodies of water, namely the Strait of Malacca, Strait of Singapore, South China Sea and Celebes Sea. The territorial seas of both countries (both claim a 12-nautical-mile (22 km) territorial sea) only meet in the Straits of Malacca and Straits of Singapore. Territorial sea boundaries also exist at the continuation of both ends of the land boundary between the two countries in Borneo. Only continental shelf boundaries have been agreed to in the South China Sea while the continental shelf boundary in the Celebes Sea has not been determined at all. [2]

Continental Shelf

Agreements exist regarding the continental shelf boundaries in the South China Sea, but not for the Celebes Sea. [5]

Territorial Waters

Both countries claim 12-nautical-mile territorial seas, which come into contact in the Strait of Malacca and Strait of Singapore. [2]

Historical Context

Indonesia and Malaysia's maritime boundaries are largely inherited from colonial-era borders.

Most of the current borders of Malaysia and Indonesia were inherited from Dutch East Indies and, British Malaya and Borneo colonial rule. The border between the two countries consists of a 1,881 km (1,169 m) land border and also includes maritime boundaries along the Straits of Malacca, in the South China Sea and in the Celebes Sea. [7]

Currently, both nations are in a territorial dispute over the oil-rich islands of Ambalat. [8] Previously, they were over territorial disputes over the islands of Ligitan and Sipadan, which were won by Malaysia. [9]

The recent border disputes have arisen in Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea area mainly because of the disagreement on exact locations of maritime naval borders in these waters. Both parties involved in arresting and detaining their counterpart's officials and fishers accused of territorial breaching violations and illegal fishing. [10] [11] [12] [13]

Disputes

There have been historical and ongoing disputes, particularly concerning the Ambalat region in the Celebes Sea, and disagreements over the exact locations of maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. [2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "India-Malaysia Maritime Relations In The Indo-Pacific: The Precedence And Possibilities". finsindia.org. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Indonesia–Malaysia border", Wikipedia, 2025-05-03, retrieved 2025-06-23
  3. "Strait of Malacca", Wikipedia, 2025-06-16, retrieved 2025-06-23
  4. "Strait of Malacca | Major Shipping Route, Asia-Pacific Trade | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-05-03. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Indonesia–Malaysia Maritime Boundary | Sovereign Limits". Sovereign Limits. Archived from the original on 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  6. 1 2 "India-Malaysia Maritime Relations in the Indo-Pacific: The Precedence and Possibilities".
  7. "Malaysia". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  8. Bustami, Reevany; Maksum, Ali (2022). "The Domestic Politics and Indonesia's Tension with Malaysia on The Ambalat Case". Jurnal Ilmu Sosial. 21 (2): 98–125. doi: 10.14710/jis.21.2.2022.98-125 .
  9. "The Court finds that sovereignty over the islands of Ligitan and Sipadan belongs to Malaysia". International Court of Justice. 17 December 2002. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. "Malaysian Police Arrests Indonesian Maritime Officers, Deny Shooting". Antara. Jakarta Globe. 15 August 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  11. "Malaysia protests RI arrest of two fishing boats". The Jakarta Post. 10 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  12. "14 RI military, police arrested in Malaysia". The Jakarta Post. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  13. Jeremy Lanson (15 March 2016). "Sarawak fishermen missing after allegedly encroaching into Indonesian waters". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 7 September 2017.