JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa briefly raised then swiftly dismissed the notion of levying fees on ships transiting the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, underscoring Jakarta’s refusal to monetize vital global shipping lanes.
At a Jakarta financial symposium, Dr. Purbaya noted Indonesia’s position along the key trade and energy corridor—handling a quarter of world commerce, but highlighted legal, geopolitical, and practical hurdles to charging fees. “If only it could be that simple, but it’s not,” he said, referencing Iran’s recent push to impose charges in the Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East tensions.
He mused hypothetically about splitting revenues three ways with Malaysia and Singapore, the other coastal states, before laughing it off and firmly rejecting the idea. “We sit on a strategic route but do not charge passing ships,” Dr. Purbaya clarified.
The 900km strait, linking Asia to the Middle East and Europe, adheres to international norms of free navigation. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority reaffirmed tripartite cooperation on April 17 after a regional meeting, committing to safety and openness.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan echoed this on April 22, stressing shared trade interests and transit rights as a legal guarantee, not a toll or privilege. He reiterated Singapore’s opposition to waterway blockades or fees, including in Hormuz.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono, addressing a US warship’s routine April 14 passage and a new defense pact, affirmed adherence to international law and the nation’s “free and active” policy, prioritizing sovereignty amid global tensions.