Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore's joint patrols in South China Sea likely to reduce piracy risks if implemented

SINGAPORE, -- The Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han, said on 8 May that the navies of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore were in talks to carry out joint patrols in the South China Sea, which he hoped would be realised "sooner rather than later".

This followed earlier reports from Singapore and Malaysia that talks on joint anti-piracy patrols were in progress between Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

IHS Country Risk's analysis of piracy data shows that there has been an increasing trend of targeting tankers for oil theft over the past 16 months.

There have been five hijackings off the Malay Peninsula and in the South China Sea since January 2015, compared with 10 successful hijackings in the whole of 2014.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) ships sail out from Lumut Naval Base to exercise at the Malacca Strait.

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