Dealing with nuclear-powered submarines in South-East Asian waters

With Australia expected to get its first nuclear submarine in 2040, South-East Asian nations should strongly consider working on stricter requirements of safety from nuclear material-carrying vessels travelling through waters in this region. (Handout image of a US nuclear submarine during military exercises last month.) — AFP

SOUTH-EAST Asia is home to some of the world’s most crucial sea lines of communications. Besides the world-renowned Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the region also hosts other important maritime routes through the Indonesian archipelagic waters. Among them are the Sunda Strait route, the Lombok-Makassar route and the Ombai-Wetar route.

The closure of these important shipping ways would not only violate international law but would also affect the well-being of the global economy.