Strait of Malacca

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow sea passage between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, linking the Andaman Sea with the Singapore Strait and South China Sea.

Singapore Strait: A narrow strait between Singapore and Indonesia linking the Strait of Malacca with the South China Sea. Its eastern end continues the main shipping route through the Strait of Malacca.
Maritime Silk Road: A network of sea routes connecting East Asia with Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The strait is a longstanding junction on maritime routes between the Indian and Pacific regions.
Malacca Sultanate: A Malay sultanate based at Melaka that flourished as a major trading power in the fifteenth century. Its port grew wealthy from commerce carried through the neighboring strait.
Sunda Strait: A sea passage between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, connecting the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean. It offers an alternative Indian Ocean route, though its conditions and location differ.
Three-mile limit: A historical rule limiting a state’s territorial sea to three nautical miles from shore. Narrow straits raised questions about passage where territorial claims could overlap.
Phillips Channel: A narrow, shallow channel in the Singapore Strait near Singapore. This constricted passage funnels vessels leaving the Strait of Malacca toward Singapore.
Oil transit chokepoints: Narrow waterways whose disruption can significantly impede international oil transport. A large share of seaborne oil moving to East Asia passes through this confined route.
Portuguese conquest of Malacca: The 1511 capture of Malacca by Portuguese forces under Afonso de Albuquerque. Portugal sought control of the trading hub that commanded access to the strait.
Lombok Strait: A deep passage between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok, linking the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea. Large vessels can use this deeper alternative when the Strait of Malacca is unsuitable.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: The international treaty establishing rules for maritime zones, navigation, and ocean resource rights. Its passage rules help govern international navigation through the strait.

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