Malacca Region's Maritime Security Cooperation

As one of the world’s most important chock points, Malacca Strait plays a crucialrole in the world’s economic and trade development. Thanks to the important strategicvalue of the strait, there littoral states include Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia cangain huge economic interests; outside the region powers such as U.S, Japan and Indiaalso place great emphasis on the Malacca Strait area. The maritime security inMalacca Strait area is threatened by piracy, strait pollution and navigation accidents.Among them, the problem of piracy is the most serious and subject to widespreadattention.Under the efforts of various parties, a series of maritime security cooperationmechanism is gradually formed in Malacca Strait area. Among them, the MalaccaStrait Patrol (MSP) developed by littoral states is the most important one; regionalorganization ASEAN and regional mechanisms include ReCAAP and CooperativeMechanism between littoral states and user states are also playing an important role;International organizations as such IMO and IMB are also offering its’ help.The Malacca Strait’s strategic value also attracts outside the region powers’attention. Based on their strategic perspective and national interests, the U.S., Japanand India are strengthening their cooperation with littoral states of the Malacca Straiton maritime security through financial assistance, staff training and naval excises.