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PacNet #29 – U.S. RMSI Contravenes UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

On June 23, 2004, military authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia reached agreement on holding joint military exercises in the Strait of Malacca to cope with threats of piracy and terrorism and to ensure that the procedures stipulated by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea are used for any foreign vessels and fleets passing through the Strait. This is a substantial response to the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI) that the U.S. is now promoting.