Naval chief seeks aid for Malacca Straits

SINGAPORE, April 27 (UPI) -- Singapore's defense minister warns a terrorist attack in the Malacca Straits could be devastating for world trade.

Rear Adm. Teo Chee Hean addressed a Singapore meeting of naval officials and defense attaches from countries attending two large naval exercises hosted by Singapore and Indonesia. Teo warned the three countries bordering the Malacca Straits, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, do not have the resources to protect ships using the waterway.

"The littoral states are obviously not the only stakeholders in the Malacca Straits," Teo said, as reported by the Singapore Straits Times. "Other users have a strong economic, if not also strategic, interest in ensuring that the Malacca Straits is kept open and safe."

Teo said a major attack, like terrorists turning an oil or chemical tanker into a floating bomb, would mean rerouting 50,000 ships. Freight and insurance costs would increase sharply.

The United States, China, Russia and Japan are among the 18 countries participating in the Western Pacific Mine Countermeasure and Diving exercises. The weeklong exercises involve 20 ships and 1,600 people.