Singapore has welcomed India's offer to contribute to security in the Strait of Melaka.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said that any user state was welcomed to make a contribution but it must conform to international laws and respect the sovereignty of the three littoral states of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
"From Singapore's point of view, we welcome India making a contribution but it should be a way in which the littoral states are comfortable with," he told reporters after hosting a luncheon for the ministers and ministerial representatives attending the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue here today.
SINGAPORE, June 3 (Bernama) -- Singapore has welcomed India's offer to contribute to security in the Strait of Melaka.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said that any user state was welcomed to make a contribution but it must conform to international laws and respect the sovereignty of the three littoral states of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
"From Singapore's point of view, we welcome India making a contribution but it should be a way in which the littoral states are comfortable with," he told reporters after hosting a luncheon for the ministers and ministerial representatives attending the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue here today.
India's Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at the plenary session that India was willing to contribute to safeguard the security of the Melaka Strait.
"Subject to the desire of the littoral states, India would be willing to assist in the project in whatever capacity deemed suitable," Mukherjee said.
On the possibility that the United States might play a bigger role in the fight against maritime piracy in the region, Teo said the issue was not discussed specifically during the luncheon.
He said the decline in the number of attacks in the strait meant that the measures taken by the littoral states had been successful.
Piracy attacks in the strait last year fell to 12 from 38 in 2004. There was no attack in the first quarter of this year.
Teo said the three littoral states would continue the surface patrols in the strait as well as the "eye in the sky" proposal for maritime air patrols.
-- BERNAMA
