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News & Current Events Apr 22, 2026 at 12:17 PM

Indonesia Floats Ship Tax in Malacca Strait as Singapore Defends Free Passage

Posted by Distinct_Front_4336


Indonesia Floats Ship Tax in Malacca Strait as Singapore Defends Free Passage
Jakarta Globe
Indonesia Floats Ship Tax in Malacca Strait as Singapore Defends Free Passage
Indonesia is exploring a levy on Malacca Strait shipping, but Singapore says the vital trade route must remain free and open to all vessels.

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Inevitable-Row1759 3 days ago +249
Looks like the Pandora's box has been opened after the iran war
249
Distinct_Front_4336 3 days ago +116
Indeed, this is like Denmark deciding to impose the Sound Dues: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound\_Dues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Dues) or Turkey renouncing the Montreux Convention: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreux\_Convention\_Regarding\_the\_Regime\_of\_the\_Straits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreux_Convention_Regarding_the_Regime_of_the_Straits) International law was full of flaws, but one of its major accomplishments that was taken for granted was free navigation around the world.
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whatproblems 3 days ago +67
of which it was underwritten by the us navy. which we all benefitted from. dumbass is throwing so much influence away because he doesn’t understand anything
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Orangekale 3 days ago +43
One of the many problem with MAGA folks is that they don't seem to understand that a rules based world order is in the benefit of America, who is able to sell to the world and have excellent commerce and financial strength because of it; stability is a good thing. War goes down as nations try to work it out diplomatically. When that order breaks down, eventually, every nation is incentivized to play into might makes right; which means at the least, trying to extract tolls and rent and at worst, more nuclear proliferation, and guess which country they're going to start blackmailing for free things the way North Korea does?
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Ainene 3 days ago +10
\>MAGA it was certainly not just MAGA who were not ratifying UNCLOS (broke START, etc, etc) for decades. Law for thee but not for me is very much a bipartisan consensus, going back all the way to US keeping out of league of nations.
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314R8 1 day ago +1
It's rules based, benefiting the US and enforced by the US. And now in crumbles
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unfortunatebag 2 days ago +1
Didn't Peter Zeihan write a whole book years ago predicting basically all of this?
1
Boye 3 days ago +4
I just learned, that the Montreux Convention is what keeps russia from sending additional naval forces to the Black Sea.
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TyrialFrost 2 days ago +2
More like it's what stops Russia running and hiding from the Black Sea.
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wsb_crazytrader 3 days ago +13
So nice that the guy responsible for this will no longer be here to see the consequences of his actions. And we’ll still have to bear the burden. 👌
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__Yakovlev__ 3 days ago +10
There's still his kids to go after though. They're just as complicit.
10
Hamster_S_Thompson 3 days ago +1
Consequences of electing a reality TV personality to the presidency
1
Coolbanh 2 days ago +3
Well it started with Reagan. Electing an actor. Next they'll elect a WWE superstar or maybe even Vince McMahon?
3
No_Sandwich_717 3 days ago +34
Are they gonna bomb ships too if they dont pay?
34
speedfox_uk 2 days ago +3
That's probably the plan.
3
Cippledtimmy 2 days ago +2
There are already Indonesian pirates robbing ships
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Kashawinshky 3 days ago +41
I'm actually more concerned about this Strait than Hormuz.
41
PM_ME_YOUR_CATS_PAWS 2 days ago +15
The amount of traffic that goes through that strait is insane
15
lordofc00chie 2 days ago +5
Flying above it last night, I thought the lights of the ships were a city until I looked at the map.
5
snower88 2 days ago +11
This is almost going to cause world war. I think it’s going to force countries to retaliate or worst, take over this straits with MIGHT. Indonesia thinking is too simple , they think people gonna let them collect money like a landlord / toll collector but no. Lots of fighting and normal people blood will spill.
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karamazov_uncle 2 days ago +10
china and us will unite to f*** them up lmao
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fananism 2 days ago +3
US? the US use this weak-point to choke China bruh. also to control Japan
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DrawingDramatic1641 1 day ago +2
Us can't choke china in there China also has deployable navy there  Also china doesn't panic they may pay fees while us makes it reputation worse
2
Rayl24 2 days ago +1
Yep, to close the straits they would have to close Malaysia side as well and I'm not sure they would be happy with that.
1
ryo3000 2 days ago +1
> take over this straits with MIGHT. This is definitely easier said than done We're talking about massive military operations and lengthy occupations with boots on the ground During which, mind you, for all intents and purposes these straits are closed (being literally in a war zone) causing massive disruptions globally 
1
WhisperFray 2 days ago +3
Which ground? Indonesia is 60% sea
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WhisperFray 2 days ago +1
You people didn’t even realize that Indonesia and the US signed a defense cooperation about a week ago, huh 😉 https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/4/14/us-indonesia-sign-major-defence-cooperation-agreement
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snower88 2 days ago +1
Sound like Indonesia is leased
1
speedfox_uk 2 days ago +17
This is going to end with countries taxing other countries for passing over their airspace, isn't it?
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[deleted] 2 days ago +9
[deleted]
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speedfox_uk 2 days ago +7
That's a bit harder to enforce. You need space launch capability for that. Very few countries have that. To enforce an airspace tax you just need an airforce. Most countries have one of those.
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Littman-Express 2 days ago +4
They already do that. 
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Rayl24 2 days ago +3
You do pay a fee for that, gound staffs aren't free
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Mengs87 2 days ago +3
All countries already do. Taliban collects millions from planes flying over Afghanistan.
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OriginalGoat1 2 days ago +1
Overflight fees are already a thing.
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thewavefixation 2 days ago
They already do. Airlines are paying the Taliban as we speak
0
Awkward-Candle-4977 2 days ago +7
I'm Indonesian. His plan is stupid. Didn't he know that Indonesia has agreed for other free sea routes in 1982?
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BraveChampionship782 2 days ago +2
In before other country retaliate against Indonesia by charging extra fee for Indonesian ship.
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jonshlim 2 days ago +1
Ships mostly ply the Malaysia’s side which is deeper..
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Awkward-Candle-4977 2 days ago +1
there arent many indonesian container ships btw
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thewavefixation 3 days ago +36
Indonesia would last about 3minutes into a naval battle with Singapore.
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purified23 3 days ago +74
Singapore won’t be Indonesia’s problem. China will probably destroy indonesia first.
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ArenSteele 3 days ago +26
Indonesia will make a deal with China to enforce it for a cut, and Chinese ships sail free
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Rayl24 2 days ago -3
Ships that pass through that strait is likely going towards China or from China even when not Chinese flagged
-3
ArenSteele 2 days ago +4
Or Japan, or Korea or a dozen other countries
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Distinct_Front_4336 3 days ago +51
Iran's Navy was decimated by the US but they could "close" the strait by simply sending c**** drones to attack passing ships, which shot up the cost of insurance premium. The Houthis could also block shipping in the same way by using c**** drones, without the need of any navy. Singapore cannot sustain a long war against Indonesia due to attrition. It's simply not going to send its conscripts to occupy Jakarta or parts of Sumatra.
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FireTempest 3 days ago +16
Iran is an international pariah ruled by an totalitarian theocratic dictatorship. Indonesia is a free market democracy. Indonesia is more similar to the US than Iran in this case, they cannot sustain conflict for long or their populace will turn against the government.
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matrinox 2 days ago +6
And Singapore isn’t like Iran
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jonshlim 2 days ago
What kind of idiots to leave Malaysia out of this, when most ships use the deeper side of the strait on Malaysia’s side, and Malacca itself is the name of a Malaysian state?
0
i_dont_wanna_sign_up 1 day ago +1
I don't see how this benefits Indonesia in any way. Nobody is going to pay the tax, and they would make an enemy out of the entire world.
1
ffsudjat 2 days ago +4
Indonesia will just burn forest in Sumatra and see the neighbour choked for a bit.
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mutantmagnet 1 day ago +1
Reading the article clarifies he wants to and is probably trying to get Malaysia and Singapore to share responsibilities for this extortion racket and they will split the revenue evenly 3 ways. Singapore so far is rejecting the idea.
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thewavefixation 1 day ago +1
Singapore regards Indonesia and Malaysia as kleptocracies. There is no danger of them throwing their lot in with these idiots
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FastBuffalo6 3 days ago -9
Singapore is like the size of Rhode Island. Is their navy really way better than Indonesia who is way bigger with way more people?
-9
Borne2Run 3 days ago +40
Singapore is essentially the Sparta of SE Asia.
40
wwabbbitt 3 days ago +15
A small non-Muslim majority country surrounded at all sides by Muslim majority countries. Hmm... sounds familiar...
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uniquely_ad 3 days ago +5
Yeah SG don’t go around destabilising the region but instead work on bilateral ties
5
FederalExpressMan 3 days ago +1
Big brother China will step in before it gets out of hand
1
Vegetable_Speed_2304 3 days ago -2
Hey, guess who trained our army? And at their advice Guess which minority race and religious group for very long was mostly confined to Cannon fodder GI vocations?
-2
Regular_Walrus_1075 2 days ago +3
You stupid or what, every race has been in infantry
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EinFahrrad 3 days ago +3
I think Athens would be the apt comparison in this case as per the alleged naval prowess.
3
Mushroom_Jojo 2 days ago +1
Google highest military spending per soldier or per km^2.
1
WhisperFray 2 days ago
China and Singapore won’t do anything about it. Not if they don’t want a world war. https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/4/14/us-indonesia-sign-major-defence-cooperation-agreement
0
thewavefixation 2 days ago +4
Lmao if you are stoopid enough to think the USA would side with Indonesia in this situation.
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WhisperFray 2 days ago +2
Not if a deal could be made.
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holypika 1 day ago +1
USA as the "american people interest", or USA as "what trump want suddenly" ? tbh trump might support this and mentioned this as "greatest trade deal ever"
1
Rayl24 2 days ago +3
Sigh, that's why you don't vote in a genocidal general.
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Ultra_Metal 3 days ago +8
Don't touch the boats. Nobody touches the boats. Touching the boats results in severe consequences.
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daedcat 3 days ago +14
Can't say the same for the kids
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GreatScottGatsby 2 days ago -1
What consequences? Who is going to stop them?
-1
Bombwriter17 2 days ago +2
The navy and air force of the countries of the ships getting touched as well as the allies soft those countries. Once you do that, it's effectively a declaration of war on those countries.
2
[deleted] 2 days ago
[removed]
0
GreatScottGatsby 2 days ago
How's that going for them in Iran
0
JobTight8252 2 days ago +2
Every shipping lane in the world will now be taxed. I wonder how much money would be made from taxing the English Channel or the Straights of Gilbraltar? 
2
Stickyboard 2 days ago +2
The funny thing is Indonesia only own half of the malacca strait while Malaysia (Malacca Strait is named after one of their historical port city - Malacca) own the other half. 80% of ships traffic is via Malaysian half due to being safer , have deeper depth and excellent port infrastructure. Indonesia will lost their 20% surely
2
free_username_ 2 days ago +1
That’s one way to start a war with your neighbors
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Legal_Captain_4267 2 days ago +1
Indonesian politicians have been known to spout idiotic statements from time to time. I don’t think they have the political will to act on it though.
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articland05_reddit 2 days ago +1
what if Indonesia decide to be punk and unilaterally charge tolls regardless what Msia and SG thinks? Not like anyone is going to war with Indo over this....
1
octopus86sg 1 day ago +1
America asking their dog Indonesia to donthisp
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Tate465 1 day ago +1
Masih wacana, masih aman. Mungkin Pak Purbaya lagi stress nyari duit buat bayar MBGnya si monokotil
1
JohnDLG 3 days ago -26
It's inconvenient for the world economy for things like this to happen, but why shouldn't nations be able to control their territory.
-26
Impossible-Bus1 3 days ago +23
International waters aren't their territory.
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JohnDLG 2 days ago -7
Under 12 miles from shore are territorial waters. At the narrow end of the Strait there is no international waters, it is all territorial waters split between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
-7
WhisperFray 2 days ago +1
So many people here don’t know Djuanda.
1
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