Passing of Sovereignty: The Malaysia/Singapore Territorial Dispute before the ICJ

Abstract

The 2008 Malaysia/Singapore case before the International Court of Justice relates to the dispute concerning territorial sovereignty over three maritime features in the Straits of Singapore, namely Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge. Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh (hereafter Pedra Branca) is a granite island, measuring 137 m long, with an average width of 60 m. It is situated at the eastern entrance of the Straits of Singapore – one of the busiest maritime passages in the world. It lies approximately 24 nautical miles to the east of Singapore, 7.7 nautical miles to the south of the Malaysian state of Johor and 7.6 nautical miles to the north of the Indonesian island of Bintan. Middle Rocks consists of two clusters of small rocks that are permanently above water, and is located 0.6 nautical miles to the south of Pedra Branca.