SaGAA 7.

The Strait of Malacca connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean through the South China Sea. It is the shortest sea route between the major oil and gas suppliers in the Persian Gulf and key Asian markets like China, Japan, and South Korea and about 84,000 ships transit it every year. While the Straits of Malacca also provides the shortest trade route between the Far East and the West, it is of primary importance to all countries in Southeast Asia and East Asia who depend on this route for their energy security. Therefore, irrespective of the opening of the NSR, the Malacca Straits will continue to retain its strategic place in global seaborne trade.