June 2nd 2003
By David Boey
SINGAPORE floated three suggestions yesterday that could help maritime authorities protect ships from attacks similar to the ones launched on the warship USS Cole and the oil tanker Limburg, by seaborne terrorists.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tony Tan tabled his suggestions during a session on maritime security on the last day of the Asia Security Conference here.
He called for countries to work towards closer international cooperation on maritime security issues. This could start with improved coordination in 'basic areas', such as the exchange of information.
'Second, we should try to build on regional anti-piracy frameworks that already exist or are starting to come into place,' he said.
'We have been dealing with the problem of piracy for some time, and there are methods and tactics associated with terrorism which we can identify, and put in place preventive measures.'
His third suggestion was for maritime nations to adopt an 'integrated multidimensional approach' to the problem of maritime security. This would involve not only security agencies but also port authorities, international organisations and industry players.
At the same session, Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, noted the importance of sea lanes in his presentation.
'Oil accounts for half of Asia's energy consumption. Japan imports 98 per cent of its oil, and by 2020, China's oil consumption alone will nearly double,' he said. 'Much of that oil will transit through the narrow straits of South-east Asia. This oil, like the straits, must be protected.'
During the question-and-answer session that followed, Dr Tan was asked why Singapore allows US Customs Service officers to inspect US-bound containers in Singapore under the Container Security Initiative (CSI), and whether the costs of implementing the initiative are worthwhile.
Just as the session was about to end, Mr Mak Joon Num, a senior fellow with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia, said Singapore 'looks on the CSI as an advantage'.
He said: 'Why? Because other ports which are incapable of implementing the CSI will then be forced to feed their cargo to Singapore.
Singapore then will become the key hub for South-east Asia. I think that is an advantage that Singapore recognises, that's why it has embraced the CSI in a big way.'
Dr John Chipman, the director of conference organiser the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that Mr Mak had 'been so provocative' that he would give Mr Tan the opportunity to respond.
Mr Mak's remark - which Dr Tan took in his stride - stoked precisely the sort of exchange that helped the Asia Security Conference's plenary sessions make an impact.
In response, Dr Tan said terrorists could use containers to smuggle weapons of mass destruction from one port to another.
'We have to ensure the safety of people. The CSI seems to us to be a very sensible initiative, the best way of resolving or getting our arms around this very basic problem of how do we ensure the safety of people around the world,' he said.
'I would encourage that, you know, more ports around the world would use the CSI initiative and I would certainly encourage Malaysian ports like Klang and Tanjong Pelapas to work on this initiative and I am sure that they'll find that it will add to their competitive advantage.'
