China, Singapore diplomats reaffirm commitment to open Malacca Strait transit

Singapore and China have jointly affirmed their commitment to maintaining open transit through the vital Strait of Malacca, a critical global shipping artery. The reaffirmation came during talks in Beijing between Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

According to Chinese government read-outs, Balakrishnan emphasized that keeping the strait accessible serves the interests of all parties involved. He voiced Singapore's support for unimpeded passage not only through the Malacca Strait but also other international waterways.

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safeguarding the security of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth flow of maritime traffic is a shared aspiration of all countries and is in the common interest of the international community

Wang Yi echoed these sentiments, stating that safeguarding global industrial and supply chains, along with ensuring smooth maritime traffic, is a shared aspiration for all nations. He indicated China's willingness to continue contributing to this goal.

The discussions gain particular significance in light of recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have brought renewed attention to China's "Malacca dilemma" – its reliance on the Strait of Malacca for energy imports and trade.

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China is willing to continue making efforts to this end